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My "dictionary" of breeders would read something like this:
Breeder technically anyone who puts two animals together for the purpose of producing offspring
I. Hobby Breeding-Breeding that has a focus on enjoyment rather than as a business or to profit.
A. Show breeder: One whose primary goal is to breed rabbits to produce animals to show. They may be members of ARBA and or breed clubs but not necessarily. They would likely be breeding to a show standard and breeding to preserve a breed and to improve their herd to compete successfully in organized competition. Their culls would end up as pets, show/breeding stock, or food. They would tend to keep records and pedigrees because it would aid them in their goal of breeding for show. Their breeding will be done as a hobby although they would probably consider themselves "professionals" based on their level of knowledge in rabbits. This would include adults as well as youth. The determining factor is intent as the use of numbers, gross sales, litters produced would be inaccurate. It would be inaccurate because a show breeder would be dealing with variations in numbers produced and sold due to the needs of their breeding program to produce show rabbits. Show breeders are the ones who work on producing new color varieties and new breeds. The ability to preserve a breed will dictate how much breeding and to whom is necessary and therefore nearly impossible to set specific number limits for. Breeding for show is the most difficult and demanding of the breeding programs. The breed standard spells out what physical traits are necessary for a show rabbit and what is to be considered a disqualification for show. Not every rabbit is a show rabbit, even fewer are outstanding representatives of their breed. Mother nature cannot be controlled and the show breeder must work inside the constraints she gives them. A show breeder may find there are negative genes in their lines which could cause physical defects down to even wrong coat color or white spots. This would necessitate back tracking in breeding pairs or working to breed the traits out. Correct color is dependent on a number of genes some result in non recognized show colors but could still be necessary or useful to produce the correct recognized color. Some rabbits may be unable to produce offspring which would throw a monkey wrench into a breeding program. Due to all these factors and more a show breeder will likely deal with several lines of related rabbits or keep multiple does to ensure a litter will be produced from at least one. This is why there is so much variation in how much breeding is done and how many rabbits are in a herd. Show breeders are also likely to have more than one breed and more than one color variety in their breeds. The show breeder is the only one whose primary function and concern is to preserve a breed.
Subsets of show breeder would include:
1. Competitive show breeders whose goals are to become top breeders in their chosen breeds. Competitive show breeders tend to have larger herds and breed more frequently in order to attain their show goals. Show goals may include an attempt to rank regionally and nationally in rabbit club standings, accumulate BIS, BOB, and BOSB wins, home bred Grand Champions, etc to be used as evidence of a successful breeding program. They would also tend to have more knowledge about the breed and would be a valuable source of breeding information. This because they breed more and frequently breed more color varieties of their chosen breed. This enables them to gain a better understanding of differences between lines and colors, and how genes work or which are needed to produce specific traits required for show rabbits. They would be more likely to view their rabbits not as pets but as working animals. They would likely attend numerous shows during the year and even be willing to travel great distances to attend a show.
2. Non-competitive show breeders who may derive enjoyment from showing but are not focused on winning. They would tend to have fewer rabbits and breed less frequently than competitive show breeders. Their primary focus would be less on how well the rabbits place and more on the social aspects of rabbit breeding or enjoyment of their rabbits as more pets than working animals. They may or may not attend numerous shows per year, may or may not travel great distances, it would depend on how they can attain their specific goals.
B. Hobby pet breeders-breeder who is breeding pets just for fun, they are not breeding for show and may or may not use culls for food. They probably do not have an organized breeding program, they are likely to consider themselves pet owners. The level of breeding knowledge varies, they may know all about the basics of reproduction but may not know anything about showing because they are not interested in showing rabbits. They may or may not keep pedigrees on their animals. Their animals may or may not be purebred. They would sell offspring to the public as pets but without the intent to profit. They would likely have a small number of rabbits and not breed often. They would not likely make much of a contribution to preserving a breed however they are a source of pet rabbits for pet owners.
C. Hobby meat breeders-breeding rabbits on a small scale to produce meat for their family, may sell an occasional rabbit as a pet, not likely to show rabbits and not likely to be producing meat for those outside their immediate circle of family and friends.
D. Pet owner-Accidental breeding-nothing other than a pet owner who ends up with a litter or two of rabbits by accident usually because they didn't separate two opposite sex rabbits or they purchased unknowingly a bred doe from a pet store. They have no breeding goals, will likely keep the offspring as pets or find a strictly pet home for them. Usually have very little knowledge of rabbits, breeding, or proper husbandry.
II. Commercial breeders-Breed rabbits as a business with the goal of making a profit. Running a business and making a profit does not mean animals will be mistreated or "corners cut" in order to profit. Such ideas are nothing more than animal rights propaganda used to demonize legitimate business owners. If one mistreats their animals or deprives them of necessary food, water, proper housing, medical treatment, etc one is not likely to get offspring out of them so that they can profit. So there is no logic in assuming that all commercial breeders are inherently inhumane in animal care. Logically it would be the reverse, they would provide proper husbandry so that the animals could thrive and produce and the breeder could profit.
A. Commercial meat breeder-Breeds rabbits in order to sell for meat. The goal of course would be to profit enough so that this endeavor is a successful source of income to live on. The number of rabbits would be quite large, probably much larger than the number a competitive show breeder would have. Husbandry techniques, breeding frequency, etc would differ from that of show breeders due to the difference in goals. They would not likely be breeding to a show standard but rather the goal would be to produce quality meat rabbits and replacement stock.
B. Commercial pet breeder-Breeds rabbits as pets as a business with the intent to profit. Likely sells mainly to pet stores. The size of this operation could vary greatly depending on what the business goals are. Would likely be required to be USDA licensed if they gross more than $500 per year in sales to pet stores or brokers. They would not likely be members of ARBA or rabbit clubs, they would not likely show rabbits or breed to a show standard because they do not show. They would be interested more in producing rabbits that would meet the needs of pet owners which would vary greatly from what is needed to be a show rabbit. Health, "cuteness", and personality would likely be the main traits they would breed towards. Their rabbits may be purebred but would likely not meet the show standard. They may produce mixed breeds if there is demand for them from pet owners. Their breeding programs would be based on pet owner demand.
C. Other commercial rabbit breeders-Rabbits are also used as fur and for research. Some commercial meat and even commercial pet breeders (or even some under show breeders) may breed and sell some for these purposes or not. Supplying research rabbits entails numerous regulations and husbandry much different than what other types of breeders do. Again intent would be to run a profitable business.
-Substandard breeding facility-This would be any type of breeder who fails to provide proper husbandry as defined by pro-animal use organizations such as the ARBA, PRMA, etc. but not including any self-proclaimed animal rights or welfare groups or "rescue" or "house" rabbit groups as these organizations are philosophically opposed to breeding animals or rabbits and their use for show, meat, fur, research, or being sold as pets (despite the fact that such groups engage in pet sales or promote sales of pet rabbits from shelters/rescues-they call it "adoption"- but they are firmly involved in the pet trade). Such organizations would include ASPCA, HSUS, HRS, PETA, IDA, private SPCAs and Humane Societies. Improper husbandry would include a lack of water, food, sanitary conditions, medical treatment (not necessarily vet treatment), humane slaughter, etc. that leads to unhealthy rabbits or other animals. Shelters and rescues although not actively breeding rabbits or viewed as a "business" can also be substandard animal facilities.
-"Mill"-a derogatory term used to describe someone breeding and selling more animals than the person using the term. This is a term that has so many meanings that it has become meaningless. Most animal rights supporters use the term for anyone who is breeding and selling animals as a business regardless of conditions. They label every USDA licensed and legally operating facility a "mill". Most people who do not support the flawed philosophy of animal "rights" define the term as someone mass producing animals in filthy conditions without regard to genetic defects or health of offspring and selling for profit with the primary intent to operate as a business. Some show breeders use it to describe anyone breeding for profit (or breeding more than they do) and not actively involved in showing. Again, it has taken on so many meanings that one is never sure what the person using it exactly means.
@2006 Corinne Fayo