Our Dictionary Meaning is this:
a. An acknowledged measure of comparison for quantitative or qualitative value; a criterion.
b. An object that under specified conditions defines, represents, or records the magnitude of a unit.
You know the old saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover". Well when it comes to our wonderful Holland Lops this rule does not apply. I don't care how sweet and snuggly and wonderful and cute your rabbit is. If it's cover does not match standard then judge it and it's breeder heavily.
ARBA has set a Standard for Hollands. In cats, dogs, birds, there are standards. They are set for a reason, so that you follow them, and breed true to standard. The mainstream thought of anything goes, does not apply. Pedigree does not mean you have a rabbit that is meeting the Standard any more than a birth certificate means you are meeting any sort of standard as a human. If you have a class full of kids, you set rules and standards and guidelines. You expect them to follow them for things to run smooth and correct. Would you ever just take down all the rules and say, do whatever you want, have fun! If you did that, there would be chaos. When you do that with breeding, it is the same, it creates chaos. I get so mad when I see ads for terrible looking animals but are advertised as Pedigreed. Many people sadly perceive this to mean that they are worthy of breeding just because of a pedigree. In a litter of 4 Holland lops, you will be very lucky to have 1 that is true to standard. That means most of the litter is pet or brood quality. When you see people selling entire litters as Pedigreed show stock that is dishonest. Just because something is cute and adorable does not mean that you should breed it. Remember Gremlins!!!
Take the time to look at the stock on some of the top rabbit breeders. If your rabbit does not resemble that stock then odds are it doesn't meet criteria and should not be bred. I like to review this site often. By reading this over and over and over I pose my rabbits and study them carefully. I find this to be a great learning tool as I work on improving my rabbitry.
http://oakridgerabbitry.weebly.com/holland-lop-type.htmll
So please, SET STANDARDS! Not any rabbit will do. You want the best! You want to create the BEST. Just because someone tells you it's good does not make it true. Do your homework and stay true to the Standard and your experience will be so much more rewarding in the long run.
One more thing I would like to clarify is in regards to improving your rabbitry. You must start with good stock. If you have poor quality animals please do not think that you can buy one good rabbit to correct your other ones. This would be a very lengthy process which will create more than enough pet quality rabbits and will rarely get you to your desired goal. If you have poor stock, cut your losses and start fresh.
a. An acknowledged measure of comparison for quantitative or qualitative value; a criterion.
b. An object that under specified conditions defines, represents, or records the magnitude of a unit.
You know the old saying, "Don't judge a book by it's cover". Well when it comes to our wonderful Holland Lops this rule does not apply. I don't care how sweet and snuggly and wonderful and cute your rabbit is. If it's cover does not match standard then judge it and it's breeder heavily.
ARBA has set a Standard for Hollands. In cats, dogs, birds, there are standards. They are set for a reason, so that you follow them, and breed true to standard. The mainstream thought of anything goes, does not apply. Pedigree does not mean you have a rabbit that is meeting the Standard any more than a birth certificate means you are meeting any sort of standard as a human. If you have a class full of kids, you set rules and standards and guidelines. You expect them to follow them for things to run smooth and correct. Would you ever just take down all the rules and say, do whatever you want, have fun! If you did that, there would be chaos. When you do that with breeding, it is the same, it creates chaos. I get so mad when I see ads for terrible looking animals but are advertised as Pedigreed. Many people sadly perceive this to mean that they are worthy of breeding just because of a pedigree. In a litter of 4 Holland lops, you will be very lucky to have 1 that is true to standard. That means most of the litter is pet or brood quality. When you see people selling entire litters as Pedigreed show stock that is dishonest. Just because something is cute and adorable does not mean that you should breed it. Remember Gremlins!!!
Take the time to look at the stock on some of the top rabbit breeders. If your rabbit does not resemble that stock then odds are it doesn't meet criteria and should not be bred. I like to review this site often. By reading this over and over and over I pose my rabbits and study them carefully. I find this to be a great learning tool as I work on improving my rabbitry.
http://oakridgerabbitry.weebly.com/holland-lop-type.htmll
So please, SET STANDARDS! Not any rabbit will do. You want the best! You want to create the BEST. Just because someone tells you it's good does not make it true. Do your homework and stay true to the Standard and your experience will be so much more rewarding in the long run.
One more thing I would like to clarify is in regards to improving your rabbitry. You must start with good stock. If you have poor quality animals please do not think that you can buy one good rabbit to correct your other ones. This would be a very lengthy process which will create more than enough pet quality rabbits and will rarely get you to your desired goal. If you have poor stock, cut your losses and start fresh.
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