A frequently asked question when breeding rabbits is... if I have rabbit colour this and breed it to rabbit colour that... what colours will I get?
Well... to do that you need to know some genetics stuff OR you can use websites that will help you OR you can go with practical experience. :)
The basics of what I know are the following
Aa (agouti, tan or self)
Bb (black or brown)
Cc (white, chin or coloured)
Dd (dominant or not dominant colour)
Ee (what happens with the colours)
and there are others beyond this
Here are some sites that might help you out.
Debmark education centre.
a primer on rabbit genetics.
Three Little Ladies.
Another primer on learning genetics
Kim's Rabbit Hutch
Select a color from the drop down list that applies to the buck and doe you are breeding.
MammaRabbit: enter colour or genetics as you know them.
And thanks to DOOD on Rabbittalk.com we have this list.
A nice little list of the colour genotypes
There are only two pigments in rabbit fur and the different mutations modify how these two colours are produced.
- eumelanin = black/very dark brown
- pheomelanin = yellow
A-Locus
A_ = agouti / wild type and most dominant
at_ = tan gene. A mutation that alters the concentration of black pigment in the points and saddle. Found in otters, martens and tans
aa = self. A mutation that inhibits yellow pigment production
B-Locus
B_ = full colour concentration
bb = chocolate. A mutation that prevents eumelanin pigment from maturing into black and gives the rabbit a faded black/ brown / chocolate look
C-Locus
C_ = full colour
cchd_ = dark shaded / chinchilla. Mutation that deletes 3 of the 4 yellow pigments in the fur creating black and white colours in the fur.
cchl_ = light shaded. A mutation that eliminates both black and yellow pigments and turns a self black rabbit into a sepia colour known as sable
The next two colours are unique (along with BEW) in that they are the only ones that can completely hide any other colours under their white coats
ch_ = himilayan, sometimes referred as California coloured or pointed white.
cc = Ruby/red Eyed White (REW)
D-Locus
D_ = full colour
dd = dilution. A mutation that reduces the amount of black pigment in the fur and creates the blue varieties of rabbits
E-Locus
Es_ = steel. A mutation only visible in agouti rabbits. It extends the black pigment band in the fur.
E_ = wild type
ej_ = japanese harlequin. Inhibits black in certain areas of the coat creating a brindle effect in solids and a spotted/patchy effect in rabbits with the English Spot gene
ee = non-extension. A mutation that completely removes the black pigment leaving just the yellows.
W-Locus
W_ = wild type
ww = wide band. Visual in agouti, tan and non extension rabbits. This mutation extends the pheomelanin band so much so that all black and white/cream areas can be eliminated and will give an impression of a self orange or self red rabbit (depending on the number of Rufus modifiers)
Si - locus
Si_ = wild type
sisi = silver. This mutation causes follicles to stop producing pigment and leave the fur white with each molt, so older rabbits will be the whitest. Generally believed to be recessive but occasionally a rabbit with one gene will show silvering. The D'Argent breeds have unidentified modifiers giving them an extream silvering effect.
P-Locus
P _ = wild type
pp = pink eyed. Very newly discovered mutation and I don't know of anyone working with it in North America. Mutation that modifies the concentrations of the two pigments in fur and eyes. Same mutation seen in Mice, Rats, Gerbils, Guinea Pigs and Hamsters.
EN-Locus
EN_ = English Spotting is co-dominant. Two of these create a mostly white rabbit called a "Charlie" and a rabbit having one is called broken. There are other less understood modifiers that increase the white creating "false Charlie's" or decrease it creating "booted brokens"
enen = solid
V-locus
V_ = Vienna is co-dominant. Having two of theses creates Blue Eyed Whites (BEW) which like the himilayan and REW will hide a rabbits genetic colour under a white coat. Having one gene creates Vienna marked rabbits who have 5% to 95% white, usually around the toes or a snip on the nose and Vienna carriers who look like non Vienna rabbits.
vv = non Vienna / wild type
Du-locus
Du_ = wild type
dudu = dutch. These rabbits usually have a white blaze and ring around their neck. Occasionally a rabbit with only one dutch gene will have some white marks, likely due to some unknown modifier, and it is generally considered to be fully recessive.
Well... to do that you need to know some genetics stuff OR you can use websites that will help you OR you can go with practical experience. :)
The basics of what I know are the following
Aa (agouti, tan or self)
Bb (black or brown)
Cc (white, chin or coloured)
Dd (dominant or not dominant colour)
Ee (what happens with the colours)
and there are others beyond this
Here are some sites that might help you out.
Debmark education centre.
a primer on rabbit genetics.
Three Little Ladies.
Another primer on learning genetics
Kim's Rabbit Hutch
Select a color from the drop down list that applies to the buck and doe you are breeding.
MammaRabbit: enter colour or genetics as you know them.
And thanks to DOOD on Rabbittalk.com we have this list.
A nice little list of the colour genotypes
There are only two pigments in rabbit fur and the different mutations modify how these two colours are produced.
- eumelanin = black/very dark brown
- pheomelanin = yellow
A-Locus
A_ = agouti / wild type and most dominant
at_ = tan gene. A mutation that alters the concentration of black pigment in the points and saddle. Found in otters, martens and tans
aa = self. A mutation that inhibits yellow pigment production
B-Locus
B_ = full colour concentration
bb = chocolate. A mutation that prevents eumelanin pigment from maturing into black and gives the rabbit a faded black/ brown / chocolate look
C-Locus
C_ = full colour
cchd_ = dark shaded / chinchilla. Mutation that deletes 3 of the 4 yellow pigments in the fur creating black and white colours in the fur.
cchl_ = light shaded. A mutation that eliminates both black and yellow pigments and turns a self black rabbit into a sepia colour known as sable
The next two colours are unique (along with BEW) in that they are the only ones that can completely hide any other colours under their white coats
ch_ = himilayan, sometimes referred as California coloured or pointed white.
cc = Ruby/red Eyed White (REW)
D-Locus
D_ = full colour
dd = dilution. A mutation that reduces the amount of black pigment in the fur and creates the blue varieties of rabbits
E-Locus
Es_ = steel. A mutation only visible in agouti rabbits. It extends the black pigment band in the fur.
E_ = wild type
ej_ = japanese harlequin. Inhibits black in certain areas of the coat creating a brindle effect in solids and a spotted/patchy effect in rabbits with the English Spot gene
ee = non-extension. A mutation that completely removes the black pigment leaving just the yellows.
W-Locus
W_ = wild type
ww = wide band. Visual in agouti, tan and non extension rabbits. This mutation extends the pheomelanin band so much so that all black and white/cream areas can be eliminated and will give an impression of a self orange or self red rabbit (depending on the number of Rufus modifiers)
Si - locus
Si_ = wild type
sisi = silver. This mutation causes follicles to stop producing pigment and leave the fur white with each molt, so older rabbits will be the whitest. Generally believed to be recessive but occasionally a rabbit with one gene will show silvering. The D'Argent breeds have unidentified modifiers giving them an extream silvering effect.
P-Locus
P _ = wild type
pp = pink eyed. Very newly discovered mutation and I don't know of anyone working with it in North America. Mutation that modifies the concentrations of the two pigments in fur and eyes. Same mutation seen in Mice, Rats, Gerbils, Guinea Pigs and Hamsters.
EN-Locus
EN_ = English Spotting is co-dominant. Two of these create a mostly white rabbit called a "Charlie" and a rabbit having one is called broken. There are other less understood modifiers that increase the white creating "false Charlie's" or decrease it creating "booted brokens"
enen = solid
V-locus
V_ = Vienna is co-dominant. Having two of theses creates Blue Eyed Whites (BEW) which like the himilayan and REW will hide a rabbits genetic colour under a white coat. Having one gene creates Vienna marked rabbits who have 5% to 95% white, usually around the toes or a snip on the nose and Vienna carriers who look like non Vienna rabbits.
vv = non Vienna / wild type
Du-locus
Du_ = wild type
dudu = dutch. These rabbits usually have a white blaze and ring around their neck. Occasionally a rabbit with only one dutch gene will have some white marks, likely due to some unknown modifier, and it is generally considered to be fully recessive.
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