|
| |
|
WHY I DEVELOPED THE AMBER REX
By Paul Becker
This project was sparked 12 years ago in
Louisville as I looked through 670 Open Rex entries at the ARBA Convention.
I could not find any Lynx! Down in Youth there was only one Lynx. As
we drove back home, I decided to find out the reason for the drop in this
variety.
My correspondence with the few remaining Lynx
Rex breeders nationwide soon revealed their frustrations with trying to
establish a consistent color phenotype. I recalled reading about the problem
in Rex World in an article by Kathy Richards (1994, Issue #2, page 12-15)
where she described our Lynx Rex standard that was written to accept several
different genotypes. At the same time, the ARBA Standards Committee began to
suggest changes to the Lynx standard for several breeds, including Rex.
Therefore, I began to study the Lynx genotype in relation to the color
standard description.
The following excerpts are taken from an article titled "Rex Rabbit News"
by Claus Twisselmann which appeared in DOMESTIC RABBITS, May-June, 1983, on
page 27-28:
It has been known and proven time and again – if one breeds dilute to
dilute for several generations, a deterioration process will set in. This
will not only be noticeable in size reduction, but the color and general
vigor will slowly fade as well. As beautiful as some of those dilute
colors are, it is not possible to breed them pure for an extended amount
of time. One must resort back to the original dominant variety to be on
top and remain competitive. The dominant outcross should be done at least
every second or third generation to preserve vitality, size and color. If
both dominant parents carry the recessive dilute factor, they can produce
some superior quality young of the dilute variety.
Some breeders are fortunate enough to own a real good Lynx, but that is
where the breeding skill stops. Most of them are obtained by accident and
in order to reproduce it, they are looking for a mate in the same color
and, if not available, are at the end of the line. The Lynx, being dilute
to Cinnamon, needs, therefore, special attentions. The chocolate factor
will have to be introduced into Castor in order to produce Cinnamons in
the F2 generation. Then the dilute factor will have to be brought in by
way of an Opal cross. Once the dilute factor has been introduced into
Cinnamon, a good, vigorous herd of Lynx is on the way. Remember, Cinnamons
combined with dilute are used to produce superior Lynx and are a means to
improve this challenging variety.
Twenty-five years ago, the chocolate agouti
genotype was referred to as Cinnamon, the European name. This variety was
recently developed and presented for acceptance under the name of Amber.
Amber was chosen as a more accurate description of its phenotype and also
because an existing breed is using the name Cinnamon. Using present
terminology, Twisselmann was suggesting that breeders may employ the
following crosses for improving dilute varieties: Black x Blue, Chocolate x
Lilac, Castor x Opal, Amber x Lynx.
The problems centered upon asking for a bright
orange mid-band, belly white to the skin, and the DQ for blue undercolor.
Genetically, a Lynx is a dilute chocolate agouti. As a dilute, the mid-band
will be fawn, not bright orange. All full color agouti varieties have belly
undercolor – in Lynx it is dove-gray. But judges were confusing dove-gray
undercolor for blue and disqualifying genetic Lynx while keeping genetic
Fawns on the table for their belly white to the skin. Belly white to the
skin is the hallmark for the wideband recessive carried by the Red variety.
This gene was also getting into our Opals and causing white undercolor.
It became clear that the Lynx standard needed
correction and breeders could use the chocolate agouti genotype to establish
a consistent Lynx color phenotype. The Standard began to make changes in the
right direction beginning in 2006. But the chocolate agouti genotype was not
available as a recognized variety (Amber). So my work began in 1999 as I
introduced the chocolate gene into my Castor breeding stock by crossing my
Castor does with a super Chocolate Otter buck. The Castors from these
litters carried the chocolate factor in the F-1 and produced a few Ambers in
the F-2 generation. Their maple syrup color gave the phenotype name, Amber,
suggested by my dear wife, Marianne.
These first
Ambers were bred with Castor, Opal, and Lynx stock, and then crossed back
with Amber in the F-2 to produce three breeding lines for variety
development. Strict culling and test mating was used to eliminate the otter,
non-extension, and wideband factors from the genotype. Throughout this
development process I received invaluable assistance from Mason-Dixon Rex
Club breeders Tonya Shrawder, Rick Cope, Ben Haagen, Barbara Stewart, and
Patrick Schmidt.
I wrote the
working standard and the development certificate was issued for Amber Rex in
November, 2000. Initially, Tex Thomas requested that the name be changed to
Chocolate Castor so they could be judged with Castors as a group; however, I
appealed this proposal and a vote by the entire ARBA Standard Committee
supported the Certificate as a separate, distinct Rex variety named Amber.
In Providence,
the Rex Club Standards Committee passed the first presentation but Tex
Thomas announced that the name would be changed to Chocolate Agouti. Then in
the spring, the Rex Club membership voted to approve them for further
presentation, but some people did not vote because they were unfamiliar with
the name change. After they passed second presentation in Fort Worth, I
filed an appeal with the ARBA Standards Committee to restore the original
Amber name. In Grand Rapids they passed their third and final presentation.
The committee also voted to restore the original Amber variety name. Now we
wait until February 1 to recognize our 16th Rex variety, Amber,
in breed competition. They are already busy helping to make some beautiful
Lynx Rex.
|
|
