Things I have learned about raising

Blue-Eyed-White French Angoras (BEW FA)

By DiAnn Boehm (diann@countrydreamacres.com)

I began developing my own line of Blue-eyed white French Angora (FA) rabbits in the fall of 2005 by buying the best BEW Beveran meat rabbit buck at ARBA nationals. I crossed him with four of my best self colored (blue and black) FA does. I was amazed to get some long-wooled first generation cross rabbits (F1)! I later discovered that some Beverans are wooly! My BEW FA line has fabulous FA quality coats, outstanding commercial bodies and sweet personalities!

As soon as the first generation ½ Beveran ½ FA rabbits (F1) were old enough, I began crossing them to each other. I did get two BEW cross bred bucks in one litter and a BEW cross bred doe in a later litter by the same adults. I also crossed the original BEW Beveran buck with a first generation doe with outstanding wool density to add genetic diversity. Two BEW offspring were in that resulting litter, buck and a doe. Unfortunately, the doe died.

I have been breeding the BEW second generation bucks (F2) to Vienna carrier or Vienna marked second generation does. I have a full line of third generation BEW bucks and does plus numerous Vienna marked/Vienna carrying third generation rabbits (F3).

Here is a chart developed by Berlena Reynolds who breeds BEW mini rex the information below the chart is also by Berlena Reynolds.

BEW X BEW = 100% BEW (or REW masking BEW – called a REW/BEW)

BEW X “Normal” = 100% Vienna carriers, 0% BEW

Vienna Carrier X Vienna Carrier = 25% BEW, 50% Vienna carriers, 25% “Normal”

Vienna Carrier X BEW = 50% BEW, 50% Vienna carriers

Vienna Carriers X “Normal” = 25% Vienna Carriers, 75% Normal

You must use non BEW in your program to improve type and wool. Use the best French Angora you have or that you can afford. It saves a lot of time! Line breeding your Vienna carriers to a non-carrier is a good idea. Use the carrier offspring to breed to another carrier.

Keep the best wool and commercial body typed Vienna carriers, they will be very valuable in your breeding program.

The jury is out on whether to use REW’s in a BEW program. I have not used REW in my BEW FA program so cannot speak from experience. Some say that REW (ruby-eyed white) are perfectly fine to use in a BEW program and does not cause a red cast to the eye. Just remember the offspring are REW carriers and you may get REW when you were hoping for BEW! Others say the red cast does cause weird coloring in the blue eyes. The nice thing about this cross is that no matter what eye color, you can show these rabbits. Just be SURE and note on the pedigree that while the bunny may be REW it carries the Vienna gene! This is called a REW/BEW.

Avoid using shaded colors (sable, seal) as you tend to get a red cast to the eye (thought red cast is NOT a DQ, its not attractive J)

Vienna carriers can be showable. Check for any white spots or hairs when the rabbits are very young and also check the eyes for marbling. Marbling is a DQ.

BEW takes up a lot of cage space and is most successful if you consider it a totally separate breed from your usual line of FA. Keep very accurate notes and don’t sell Vienna carriers that are solid colors as solid colors. If Vienna marked or Vienna carriers are bred into a solid colored line it will cause major color disqualifications and customer dis-satisfaction (white spotting on dark coats)! Note EVERY Vienna marked/Vienna carrier on the pedigree and make sure a potential buyer KNOWS this rabbit carries the Vienna gene.