The Florida White Rabbit

The first thing that the breeder or a judge needs to know is correct posing. To properly pose a Florida White the front feet must be even with the eyes. The back feet must be even with the thigh joint. You must be consistent in your posing. If you pose every rabbit the same way you will be able to evaluate them better. The Florida White has evolved into a very deep, well finished animal. There should be depth at the high point of the hip. To quote Fibber McGehee, "depth is like money in the bank-you can never have too much". The successful breeder/exhibitor knows this. Depth is the hardest thing to achieve and the hardest thing to keep in your breeding program. Depth should equal width also. A good way for the beginner to see this is to actually measure a rabbit's high point and then measure the width. If they are equal this will get the eye used to seeing what depth equals width looks like. The loin should be deep, broad and very firm. There should be adequate width and depth of shoulder. A long shoulder or a weak shoulder is a fault. Condition is an important aspect when assessment is done. Although it is given only 10 points on the Florida White Standard it is important none the less. The Florida White is greatly admired for its extremely firm flesh condition. This is bred not fed into the animal. An animal that doesn't finish out in firm flesh and maintain firm flesh for a good period of time should be culled. Finish of fur goes along this same line. If an animal doesn't finish out with a prime coat and maintain the primeness it should be culled. The fur should be snappy (return to its normal position fast when stroked from back to front). A coat shorter in length tends to finish out and stay finished longer. The under coat should be soft and dense. The guard hairs shouldn't be too long and they should be thicker than the under coat to provide resistance when stroked backward. Proper texture is extremely important. And of course the fur should be very white. It is easier to maintain a clean coat rather than to try to remove a stain. Make sure spraying bucks and rusty cages are not a problem for the show animals in your rabbitry.

KIMIJO MARESKA was the owner of the Florida White Rabbit on the FWRBA diamond logo. This Florida White won BOB at the Florida White Nationals in 1995, BOS ARBA Convention & Show 1995, and BOB Florida White Nationals 1996.

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