Max Dwarfing Gene

What makes a Netherland Dwarf a dwarf? Simple, the dwarfing gene! There are actually a handful of recognized breeds of rabbits which carry the dwarfing gene. Some of these include Netherlands Dwarf, Holland Lop, American Fuzzy Lop, Jersey Wooly, Mini Rex, and Dwarf Hotot.

The dwarfing gene, as one might expect, controls the size of the rabbit.

First, some basic genetics. We'll keep this simple here.

The rabbit, like the human, has chromosomes that occur in pairs. Each rabbit receives one chromosome from its father and one chromosome from its mother. In general, genes can be dominant, recessive, incomplete dominant, or incomplete recessive. The dwarfing gene is dominant, and if the rabbit carries it, it is expressed. The normal sized gene is recessive and any normal (non-dwarf) rabbit can not produce dwarfs unless it is bred to one.

The Dwarfing gene is a single gene on each chromosome. We'll use the shorthand Dw to refer to the dwarfing gene. Normal sized rabbits do not carry the dwarfing gene but have the recessive form of this gene, dw. 

Since every rabbit has a pair of these genes, they can have one of the following three combinations: 

• Dw Dw (Double Dwarf - Peanut)
• Dw dw (True Dwarf)
• dw dw (False Dwarf - Non Dwarf)

The "Dw Dw" combination is a "lethal" combination; therefore a rabbit carrying two dwarfing genes will not survive. These rabbits, often called peanuts, rarely make it past more than a few days, but there have been cases where some have lived longer.

"Dw dw" is the true dwarf. They are smaller in size than "dw dw" rabbits. They also have shorter ears and blockier heads and bodies as well.

"dw dw" rabbits are often called "False Dwarfs", "Non Dwarfs", "BUBs" (Big Guly Bucks) and "BUDs" (Big Ugly Does). These animals can be useful in your herd, especially when you use them as brood does. The BUDs make great moms. Because of their larger size they can kindle larger litters and usually have fewer birthing complications such as stuck kits. Because these does don't carry the dwarfing gene, they are unable to produce peanuts. However, by using these does you raise your chances of getting more non dwarfs to 50% instead or 25%. See the chart below.

Statistical results in breeding dwarfs:

• True Dwarf (Dwdw) x True Dwarf (Dwdw) =
       25% chance of peanuts
       25% chance of non-dwarfs
       50% chance of true dwarfs
   
• True Dwarf (Dwdw) x Non Dwarf (dwdw) =
       0% chance of peanuts
       50% chance of non-dwarfs
       50% chance of true dwarfs
   
• True Dwarf (Dwdw) x Non Dwarf (dwdw) =
       0% chance of peanuts
       100% chance of non-dwarfs
       0% chance of True Dwarfs

Article written by Mindy Borer
Rabbit Registrar #RR473
www.TranquilAcresRabbitry.com