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113:(ARBA): white, red, black, blue, and broken. Crossbreeding can result in many other variations, such as gold tipped steel and chestnut agouti. They average 10–12 lb (4.5–5.4 kg) with the does being slightly larger than the bucks. New Zealands are bred for meat, pelts, show, and laboratory uses, being the most commonly used breed of rabbit both for testing and meat production. They are also bred as pet rabbits but mostly breed for meat.
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fur coats and fur trimmings. The lower grades are used to make felt hats and glove linings ("Commercial Rabbit
Raising"). The New Zealand is commonly used as a meat rabbit with a high feed to meat ratio with fine bones, and are considered one of the best breeds for meat production. Production rabbits are fed more protein (18-20% rather than the typical 16-18% for non-production rabbits), and sometimes alfalfa hay.
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New
Zealand rabbits were not originally bred to be a domestic pet; they were bred for their fur and meat. Fryers are slaughtered at 8–12 weeks, and older rabbits are sold as roasters. White rabbits are preferred for fur, because it's easier to dye. The rabbits with high grades of fur are used to make
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and along with hay or other materials provided she will create a nest. The young are born hairless, deaf, and blind. Fur begins to grow in by day 3 to 5 and after 7 to 10 days the kits' eyes will open. By 2 weeks they may begin exploring and sampling outside food sources. At the age of three to four
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Esteves, PJ; Abrantes, J; Baldauf, HM; BenMohamed, L; Chen, Y; Christensen, N; González-Gallego, J; Giacani, L.; Hu, J.; Kaplan, G.; Keppler, O. T.; Knight, K. L.; Kong, X. P.; Lanning, D. K.; Le Pendu, J.; de Matos, A. L.; Liu, J.; Liu, S.; Lopes, A. M.; Lu, S.; Lukehart, S.; Manabe, Y. C.; Neves,
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New
Zealand rabbits were likely developed in California from a mix of breeds, possibly including Belgian hares and Flemish giants. They were developed for their quick growth rate and meat type, and were added to the US rabbit standard in 1916. Originally they only came in red. The white variety was
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Cannibalism is rare but can happen. In the wild it is a defensive mechanism to remove all blood and dead tissue from the nesting area to avoid detection by predators. If young are stillborn or die after birth, the doe will often eat the remains. Cannibalism can also be prompted by a severe lack of
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A doe (female rabbit) becomes fertile between 8–12 weeks of age and can be safely bred at 5–8 months of age depending on the rabbit. Breeding before this age can cause harm or death to the doe and/or kits. Does are fertile all year long although day length can affect that some. The
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created in 1917 by
William S. Preshaw out of some white New Zealands born in a litter of reds. While the reds remained more popular for meat for some time, whites quickly caught on because of their white pelt, which could be easily dyed and was more valuable in the fur market.
151:, a pigment found in most organisms. The most noticeable characteristic of white rabbits is their bright eyes, which are a ruby pink color. For this reason, they are often described as REW (ruby eyed white). REW is a recessive trait and
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is around 28–35 days, although most will kindle (give birth) at 31–32 days. A nest box should be provided for the new mother two to five days prior to the expected kindling date. The doe will pull fur from her abdomen and
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weeks their mother will begin to wean them off milk, meanwhile the kits will switch to eating hay and pellets. The average number of kits per litter is seven but commonly range from one to fourteen. Because rabbits are
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Amongst various strains, New
Zealand white strains of rabbits are commonly being used for research activities. These strains are less aggressive in nature and have less health problems as compared with other
652:
F.; McFadden, G.; Pan, R.; Peng, X.; de Sousa-Pereira, P.; Pinheiro, A.; Rahman, M.; Ruvoën-Clouet, N.; Subbian, S.; Tuñón, M. J.; van der Loo, W.; Vaine, M.; Via, L. E.; Wang, S.; Mage, R. (22 May 2018).
140:, a fatty flap of fur below the chin which female rabbits sometimes use as a source of fur for lining their nest. Breeders prefer females with only a small dewlap and males that have none.
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New
Zealands are medium to large rabbits. Bucks (males) weigh 9–11 lb (4.1–5.0 kg), while the does (females) weigh 10–12 lb (4.5–5.4 kg). Female rabbits may have a
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fluids and feed. Bucks have little to no part in raising the young. They do in some cases act as babysitters and a heat source for the young kits in group settings known as a
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testing because of their docility and good health. Rabbits react similarly to humans to diseases and medications. This reaction allows them to be used at
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New
Zealand rabbits have a broad, muscular, and deep body of medium length, with well-rounded haunches. The ears stand straight up rather than being
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133:. Fur is of normal length and "flyback," which means that when brushed in the wrong direction, it immediately returns to the original position.
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Though the ARBA treats all New
Zealand rabbits the same, the British Rabbit Club (BRC) holds red New Zealand rabbits to a different standard.
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a doe can become pregnant by the simple act of mating if conditions are right. A doe can get pregnant within 24 hours after giving birth.
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170:(ARBA) has recognized blue New Zealands since late 2016. When shown in competition they are judged primarily on body type.
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The blue New
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called albinism that results in a snowy white coat. Albinism is caused by a lack of
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109:. New Zealand rabbits are available in five colors recognized by the
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53:. Statements consisting only of original research should be removed.
239:, and food additives have also been tested on New Zealand rabbits.
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Parental Care: Evolution, Mechanisms, And
Adaptive Significance
18:
654:"The wide utility of rabbits as models of human diseases"
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Rosenblatt, Jay S.; Snowdon, Charles T., eds. (1996).
584:"Rabbit as an animal model for experimental research"
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The Backyard Homestead Guide to Raising Farm Animals
487:. American Federation of New Zealand Rabbit Breeders
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636:: CS1 maint: DOI inactive as of September 2024 (
204:laboratories, the U.S. Public Health building,
822:Rabbit breeds originating in the United States
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196:New Zealand rabbits are a common choice for
761:Damerow, Gail (2011). Guare, Sarah (ed.).
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582:Mapara, M.; Thomas, B.; Bhat, K. (2012).
69:Learn how and when to remove this message
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746:(4th ed.). Cengage. p. 288.
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465:. American Rabbit Breeders Association
155:to most other color genes in rabbits.
105:, possibly from rabbits imported from
658:Experimental & Molecular Medicine
404:
402:
366:"How to Care for New Zealand Rabbits"
111:American Rabbit Breeders' Association
7:
346:"New Zealand Red Rabbit 101: Part 2"
326:"New Zealand Red Rabbit 101: Part 1"
168:American Rabbit Breeders Association
744:Small Animals Care & Management
101:in origin. The breed originated in
125:White (albino) New Zealand rabbit.
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143:White New Zealand rabbits have a
791:New Zealand Rabbit Breed History
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23:
387:. Three Little Ladies Rabbitry
231:. The effects of skin creams,
1:
438:"Rabbit genetics color chart"
385:"Rabbit Breeds - New Zealand"
97:, which despite the name, is
534:. AZRabbits. Archived from
410:"Breed Standards 2021-2025"
49:the claims made and adding
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742:Dean, Warren M. (2016) .
670:10.1038/s12276-018-0094-1
288:Rabbits and hares portal
604:(inactive 2024-09-03).
601:10.4103/1735-3327.92960
588:Dental Research Journal
417:British Rabbit Council
208:research centers, and
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85:Red New Zealand rabbit
507:"New Zealand Rabbits"
306:List of rabbit breeds
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532:"New Zealand Whites"
538:on 28 February 2018
485:"Blue New Zealands"
463:"Recognized Breeds"
801:New Zealand rabbit
769:. pp. 107–8.
442:Minifluffs Caviary
192:Laboratory testing
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34:possibly contains
796:Breeds of Rabbits
776:978-1-60342-969-6
767:Storey Publishing
753:978-1-285-42552-8
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