American Rabbit

American Rabbit. History and description of
American Blue and White Rabbits. Learn about this large, gentle, productive and
endangered rabbit breed.

American Blue and White Rabbits

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The very first national rabbit breeder’s club, The National Pet Stock Association (forerunner of the ARBA) was just a baby – 8 years old – when the American Rabbit was recognized as a breed in 1918.

Mr. Lewis H. Salisbury was the inventor, and his secret genetic recipe died with him, though some breeders have guessed that Blue Flemish Giants, Blue Viennas (now extinct), Blue Beveren, and Blue Imperials (now extinct) went into the concoction. 

When the ‘perfect specimen’ was finally obtained, Mr. Salisbury named it “Pasadena Major,” and then built the standard of perfection to match all the qualities of this ‘perfect’ American specimen. 

Continued breeding overcame early problems with white hairs and poor blue coloring.  Furriers took notice, paying the big bucks in the early 1920’s – $2 apiece – for prime Blue American pelts.

Every once in a while, breeders found a white bunny amidst the sea of blue in the nest boxes. Seemed like a waste to just throw these away. So they began developing a White American, tossing in a bit of Red-Eyed White Flemish Giant. In 1925, White Americans were measuring up to their Blue siblings and were recognized as a second variety of American.

The advent of New Zealand Whites and Californians
nearly spelled the doom of the American.

Breeders flocked to these new, bulky breeds and lost
interest in Americans. Today NZWs and Californians are the mainstay of
commercial rabbit production, while Americans stand near the brink of extinction
but for a few dedicated breeders. In 2006, Americans were the rarest breed in
America. The American Livestock Breeds Conservancy listed them as Critically
Endangered.

Then in September of 2006, providentially perhaps, a herd of
38 ‘New Zealand White Rabbits’ was advertised for sale outside of Edmonton
Alberta, Canada. Turns out that a Christian community of Hutterites had been
raising this herd of rabbits for meat ever since the 1920s. They looked exactly like Americans, despite the NZW label.

A Hutterite-raised rabbit. This is no NZW.

Ms. Gayle Gordon and Ms. Helga Vierich-Drever, both of
Edmonton, purchased the entire colony, and are successfully showing, breeding
and registering the rabbits as Americans.

In 2010, Americans, both Blue and White, were listed
as critically endangered. 

Since 2012, the American breed appears to be
rebounding somewhat, as breeders rediscover the breed traits that made them
popular in the early days – hardy, docile rabbits that kindle large litters and
carry strong maternal instincts and milking ability. The American Livestock
Breeds Conservancy still lists the breed as “threatened.”

American Rabbit Standard of Perfection

Americans are a meat rabbit with a mandolin body type.

The Standard of Perfection can be obtained from the ARBA
or the Breeders of the American
Rabbit (BAR).

Varieties:

Red-Eyed White – White (albino) rabbits
with red eyes

Blue – a rich, clear, dark uniform slate
blue, as deep as possible, uniformly covering the entire body. Blues are
reputed to have the darkest blue of any domestic rabbit breed.

Weights:

Senior Bucks – 9-11 lbs
Senior Does – 10-12 lbs

Interested in other rabbit breeds?

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