Bunch of Bunnies
The Easter Bunny isn't the only rabbit making an appearance in Butler County this month.
While the symbol of spring arrives Easter Sunday, nearly 1,000 of his relatives will drop by April 27.
That's when the Butler County Rabbit Breeders Association will open its Double Rabbit Show at the Butler Farm Show grounds.
“Last year we had 1,000 rabbits, between 300 and 400 exhibitors and 33 breeds, and we expect the same this year,” said Kathy Kummer of Meridian, a BCRBA member who's acting as the general show superintendent this year.
Kummer said the event is sanctioned by the American Rabbit Breeders Association.
“The ARBA is on the same national and world level as the American Kennel Club is with dogs,” said Kummer.
The show is a double event, said Scott Wood of Saxonburg, a BCRBA member and the show secretary.
“There's a morning show. Once it's done, we start a second show in the afternoon,” Wood said.
“We'll start at 8:30 a.m.,” said Kummer. “We'll go through all the breeds until we finish. Then start a second show.”
“It allows for two things. It could mean more points for the rabbits. And for people, if they can't come in the afternoon, they come in the morning,” Wood said.
Bryan Rager of Renfrew, president of the BCRBA, said. “We'll run a show in the morning. Judging goes until that show is done. Then we will start a second show.”
“There will be a different judge judging a different breed,” said Rager.
Rager added both shows will have an open and youth category.
“The open show is for youths up to 18,” said Rager. “The youth category gives younger kids, the newer breeders, more of a chance.
They're not going up against older, more experienced breeders.”“We found historically people will come and stay for two shows. And since we have to pay the judges, it makes sense,” said Kummer. “A couple of the breeds will go to the judges three times in one day.”Rabbits are placed on a table in front of a panel of judges.“They do it by breed,” said Wood. “Each breed has its own ARBA standards.”“We hired judges that are qualified. They go to school and are tested,” said Woods.The rabbits “are carried to the judges and checked over for health and then judged on fur, markings and confirmation or body type,” said Kummer.“We give out 123 ribbons,” Wood said, in categories including best of breed.“Every best of breed, they go back in and go against each other to determine best in show. We give a carrier cage to the winner,” Wood said.“This goes on all over the U.S.” said Wood, with breeders trying to amass points for their animals at shows on the state and national level.The more ribbons a rabbit has, the more it will bring when sold, he said.Breeds that will be represented include Holland Lop, Netherland Dwarf, Flemish Giant and Creme D'Argent.“Holland Lop, they are small, lop-eared rabbits, probably will be our biggest class,” said Kummer.“There's a newly recognized breed, the Lionhead. I look for more of those. They have not been approved for show tables until this year,” she said.“They actually have a mane,” she added. “They are little, too, very small, probably three pounds or less. It's a combination of the way they've been bred. They will appear to have the mane of a lion.”
Kummer, Wood and Rager were introduced to rabbit breeding by their children's 4-H projects.“We currently have 16 rabbits. We have Californians, Mini Red Satins and Creme D'Argents,” said Wood. “The Californians and the Creme D'Argents are meat breeds, and the red satins are basically just pets. They are not considered a commercial breed.”“I just enjoy the travel and the people I became associated with,” said Kummer. “All three daughters raised rabbits for 4-H, and when they left home I kept it up. We had already established ourselves in that circle of people that enjoy the hobby.”“I own 29 rabbits, Havanas and Mini Satins,” said Kummer. “They are show rabbits, part of their breed commodity would be fur for both breeds.”“They're just for show. My family won't eat the meat, so I won't cook it,” she said.Rager said he and his daughter, Sarah, 17, raise Silver Fox, New Zealand and Flemish Giant rabbits and have about 30.Rager said some of his rabbits do wind up on the dinner table.“They taste like chicken,” said Rager. “They have white meat just like chicken breast, and they are better for you than chicken. They are higher in protein and lower in fat and cholesterol.
Kummer and Wood both say they field a lot of inquiries about buying rabbits as pets at this time of year.“We try to steer them in the right direction,” said Wood of potential buyers. “It's a commitment like buying dog. I think anymore we get more requests to borrow them for Easter pictures.”“Rabbits as Easter gifts, that's pretty historical,” said Kummer. “People will call the 4-H Extension office and ask who has them. The office will give them our numbers.”“They have to be 8 weeks old to sell, but when they are 8 weeks old, they are not tiny anymore,” said Kummer.Rager said he doesn't get a lot of pet inquiries.“The rabbits we do are more of a bigger breed. They don't want the bigger breeds,” he said of potential pet owners.“The New Zealand and the Silver Fox get up to 10 pounds. These are pretty big rabbits, not pets,” Rager said.Rabbits aren't a bad choice for a pet provided people realize they aren't fluffy toys, said Kummer.“They are pretty well maintenance free,” agreed Kummer. “But I ask the family how old the child is. A 3-year-old will try to hug a rabbit like a kitten or a puppy. But they aren't cuddly. They can scratch. They are not bite-free animals either. Any animal, no matter how tame, will bite if it is frightened.”“A rabbit you can compare more to a cat than a dog,” said Wood. “You can litter train rabbits. You can have them in the house.”“They are the same as any animal. The more affection, the more trusting they will get. Whereas if you stick them in a pen and let them go, they will get kind of feisty,” said Wood.
Whether as a pet, an investment or a source of protein, Kummer said, rabbit-raising is a fairly inexpensive hobby.“They are easier to haul than horses.” said Kummer. You don't need the housing, the housing is small. My rabbit barn is an old playhouse that my girls played in when they were little. You can put 20 in the back of a Jeep or truck.”“Feed has become expensive, but the diet is rather simple pellets. If you are looking to have new stock, they obviously breed quickly and you will have new stock in six months,” she said.
<B>WHAT: </B>Butler County Rabbit Breeders Association Double Rabbit Show<B>WHEN: </B>April 27, showroom opens at 7 a.m., judging begins at 8:30 a.m.<B>WHERE: </B>Butler Farm Show grounds, 627 Evans City Road.<B>INFO: </B>Two officially sanctioned American Rabbit Breeders Association shows each with open and youth categories.
