Scientific name Oryctolagus cuniculus Rank Breed | Origin Netherlands | |
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Similar Holland Lop, Mini Lop, Lionhead rabbit, Netherland Dwarf rabbit, French Lop | ||
Miniature lop eared bunny qq summer getting a good massage 2
The Miniature Lop was recognised by the British Rabbit Council in 1994 (Lop Breeds-No.8), with a maximum weight of 1.6 kg (3 lb 8oz) It is the smallest of the Lop eared breeds. Being one of the smallest lop breeds they are easily handled and have great characters.
Contents
- Miniature lop eared bunny qq summer getting a good massage 2
- History
- Weight
- Appearance
- Colour
- Lifespan
- References
There are also miniature Lop Rabbits with cashmere fur called Miniature Cashmere Lop (Lop Breeds-No.2) and miniature Lop Rabbits cross-bred with Dwarf Lionheads called Miniature Lion Lop (Lop Breeds-No.9)
The Miniature Lop, is often called the Mini Lop in the UK, however, it is a different breed from US Mini Lop. The Miniature Lop is the equivalent of the US Holland Lops, however it can be smaller than the US Holland Lops.
History
The Miniature Lop in Britain is a relatively new rabbit breed, and it is descended from the first dwarf lops (Holland Lop), developed in the Netherlands during the 1970s.
A Dutch rabbit breeder, Adriann de Cock, is generally credited with developing the dwarf Lop Breeds by crossing together the largest of the Lop Breeds, French Lop, with the Netherland Dwarf during the winter of year 1949-1950. Years of hard work paid off to produce the smallest of the Lop Breed, and Holland Lops of around 2 kg - 2.5 kg were first shown in 1964.
In 1970, The Holland Lop breed society of 12 breeders in the Netherlands was established by Adriann de Cock, with the aim of breeding Holland Lops down to 1.5 kg. Ten years later, these smaller Holland Lops were imported to Britain by George Scott of Yorkshire via a Dutch contact. After years of selective breeding between the smallest lops among them, a new breed was developed and they named the Miniature Lop.
The Miniature Lop was recognised by the British Rabbit Council in 1994, with a maximum weight of 1.6 kg.
The Miniature Lop, often called the Mini Lop in the UK (however, it is a different breed from US Mini Lop), has become one of the most popular show and pet breeds.
Weight
Females usually grow larger than the male.
Appearance
Coat - The coat to be dense and of good length, rollback with an abundance of guard hairs. Legs and pads to be well furred.
Head, Crown and Eyes - The head is bold, broad and well developed. The profile of the head is strongly curved with a good width between the eyes, full cheeks and a broad muzzle. The eyes are bold, bright and large. The basal ridge of the ears should appear prominent across the top of the skull to form the crown.
Ears - Should be broad, thick, well furred and rounded at the ends. They should be carried close to the cheeks giving a horseshoe like outline when viewed from the front. The inside of the ears should not be visible from any angle when carried correctly.
Colour
Agouti, Black, Blue, Brown, Butterfly, Chinchilla, Fawn, Fox, Opal, Orange, Sable Marten, Sealpoint, Siamese Sable, Siamese Smoke, Sooty Fawn, Steel, White
Lifespan
The expected lifespan of this rabbit is between 7-14 years,but can live up to 18 years if properly cared for.