OUR MINI LOPS AND INFORMATION ON THE MINI LOP BREED
ISABELLA IMPORT DOE
PIERRE IMPORT BUCK
ELWYN IMPORT DOE
JESSICA
RIO
THE HISTORY OF THE MINI LOP
THE HISTORY OF THE MINI LOP AS IT IS KNOWN TODAY BEGAN IN THE EARLY 1990'S WHEN A NUMBER OF BRITISH BREEDERS IMPORTED 'NEDERLANDE HANGOOR DWERG' RABBITS FROM HOLLAND. THESE WERE LOPS WHICH HAD BEEN REDUCED IN SIZE BY THE DUTCH, THIS GROUP OF DEDICATED BREEDERS BEGAN WORKING WITH THESE LOPS.THE HOLLAND LOP CLUB WAS FORMED BUT WAS NOT AFFILIATED WITH THE BRC.
AROUND THE SAME TIME THE BRITISH MINI LOP CIRCLE (ALSO AN UNAFFILIATED GROUP) WAS FORMED WITH THE PURPOSE OF PROMOTING THE BREEDING OF A SMALL LOP EARRED RABBIT BRED FROM BRITISH BLOOD LINES THAT WERE DEVELOPED FROM DWARF LOPS.
THE BRITISH BLOODLINES FOUND THEIR ORIGINS IN THE STOCK THAT WAS IMPORTED INTO BRITAIN IN THE LATE 60S BY MIKE GUY AND GWENDA TOSE FOLLOWED A LITTLE LATER BY GEORGE SCOTT AND MEG BROWN. THE STOCK THAT HAD BEEN IMPORTED CAME FROM LINES CREATED BY ADRIANN VAN DE COCK OF TILBURG HOLLAND IN THE YEAR OF 1964. THESE LINES WERE CREATED USING SMALL FRENCH LOPS, NETHERLAND DWARFS AND ENGLISH LOPS. THE MINISTRY PLACED A BAN ON ANY FURTHER ANIMALS BEING IMPORTED NOT LONG AFTER THIS. A BUSINESSMAN KNOWN AS ANGIO CHIESA WHO FREQUENTLY TRAVELLED EUROPE IMPORTED A FURTHER 10 LITTLE LOPS IN 1978. THESE HAD TO QUARANTINED FOR 6 MONTHS AND SOME DIDN'T MAKE IT. THESE WERE SMALLER THAN THOSE THAT HAD BEEN IMPORTED BY GEORGE SCOTT AND MEG BROWN. THE LOPS THAT WERE BEING IMPORTED AND THEN BRED FROM WEIGHED IN AT AROUND THE 4-5LB MARK.ANGIO CHIESA SHOWED HIS LOPS AT THE ADULT STOCK SHOW AT COVENTRY IN 1978 WINNING OVERALL BEST IN SHOW WITH A SOOTY FAWN. THE OFF SPRING FROM THIS STOCK WAS IN HIGH DEMAND AND FROM THIS STOCK THE DWARF LOP WAS DEVELOPED. THE EARLY STOCK WHEN BRED FOR SHORTNESS OF BODY OFTEN FAILED TO MEET THE REQUIRED WEIGHT FOR THE DWARF LOP, THESE SMALLER ANIMALS WERE KEPT AND USED TO KEEP THE LARGER ANIMALS WITHIN THE UPPER WEIGHT LIMIT (5 1/4 LBS). SOME FANCIERS SOON REALISED THAT CHEISA'S SMALLER LOPS COULD BE WORKED ON TO BECOME THE MINI LOP. DURING THE LATE 1980S EARLY 1990S TONY RICE, WELL KNOWN AS A TAN BREEDER AND JANE BRAMLEY DEDICATED MUCH WORK TO THE MINI LOP. TONY RICE PASSED AWAY IN 1993 BEFORE HIS DREAM HAD BEEN REALISED, HE NEVER SAW THE BRC ACCEPT THE STANDARD FOR THE MINI LOP.
PRIOR TO THE DEATH OF TONY RICE, PETER FAINT HAD SHOWN AN INTEREST AND ACQUIRED SOME OF RICE'S STOCK. IT WAS JANE BRAMLEY AND PETER FAINT WHO TOOK THE BRITISH MINI LOP FORWARD TO THE POINT WHERE THEY APPLIED TO THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE OF THE BRC TO BE ACCEPTED AND TO ALSO AFFILIATE THE MINI LOP CLUB TO THE BRC. THEIR APPLICATION WAS REFUSED, AT THE SAME TIME THE HOLLAND LOP CLUB WITH THE RABBITS THEY IMPORTED WERE ALSO APPLYING FOR THEIR STANDARD AND CLUB TO BE ACCEPTED BY THE BRC. THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE FELT THAT WITH BOTH TYPES OF SMALL LOP BEING SO SIMILAR THAT THE BREED STANDARDS COMMITTEE SHOULD WORK WITH BOTH SETS OF BREEDERS TO PRODUCE A STANDARD THAT WOULD BE ACCEPTABLE TO BOTH PARTIES. THIS AMALGAMATION FORMED A NEW GROUP NOW KNOWN AS THE NATIONAL MINIATURE LOP RABBIT CLUB (NMLRC), THE NEW STANDARD WAS AGREED IN PRINCIPAL AND NEW RINGS IN A SIZE K WERE ISSUED IN NOVEMBER OF 1994. THE BRADFORD CHAMPIONSHIP SHOW IN 1995 SAW THE FIRST MEETING OF THE NEW COMMITTEE, WHICH WAS FORMALLY GRANTED AFFILIATION AT A MEETING OF THE MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE ON THE 28TH JANUARY 1995. IT IS STILL POSSIBLE TO IDENTIFY THE TWO DIFFERENT SOURCES OF FOUNDATION STOCK, AS THERE IS QUITE A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THEM. THE HOLLAND LOP (IMPORTS) HAS A SMALLER 'APPLE SHAPED' HEAD AND TENDS TO SIT HIGHER. WHEREAS THE SCALED DOWN DWARF LOP STOCK IS OFTEN DESCRIBED AS BEING LIKE A BRICK SHAPE AND HAS A MUCH LARGER HEAD. IT IS STILL HARD TO SAY WHICH IS FAVOURED BY JUDGES ALTHOUGH PETER FAINT WITH HIS SCALED DOWN DWARFS WAS A MAJOR FORCE IN THE CLUB STOCK SHOWS FOR THE FIRST FIVE YEARS.
MINI LOP BREED STANDARD
RING SIZE K
WHEN A RABBIT IS EXHIBITED THERE ARE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF POINTS APPOINTED TO EACH AREA THAT IS JUDGED TOTALLING 100 POINTS. FOR THE MINI LOP THESE ARE AS FOLLOWS:
AREA POINTS
1. TYPE 30
2. WEIGHT
3. COAT 20
4. HEAD, CROWN AND EYES
5. EARS 30
6. COLOUR AND PATTERN 15
7. CONDITION 5
TOTAL 100
THIS BREAKS DOWN IN THE FOLLOWING WAY, BASICALLY ON THE SHOW TABLE THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA IN YOUR SHOW RABBIT AND ATTRIBUTE POINTS TO EACH AREA, THE AIM IS TO BREED A RABBIT THAT MEETS ALL CRITERIA.
* TYPE (HOW YOUR RABBIT SHOULD LOOK) - BOLD, THICKSET AND FIRM. THE BODY SHOULD BE SHORT, BROAD AND WELL MUSCLED WITH LITTLE VISIBLE NECK. THE WELL MUSCLED RUMP IS SHORT AND WELL ROUNDED. THE CHEST IS BROAD AND DEEP WITH CURVED SIDES WHERE IT MEETS THE SHOULDERS. THE FRONT LEGS ARE THICK, SHORT AND STRAIGHT. THE HIND LEGS ARE SHORT, STRONG, POWERFUL AND CARRIED PARALLEL TO THE BODY. THE TAIL IS STRAIGHT, STRONG AND WELL FURRED. A SMALL DEWLAP IS PERMISSIBLE BUT NOT DESIRABLE.
* ADULT WEIGHT
IDEAL MAXIMUM
KG 1.5 1.6
Lb/Oz 3.4 3.8
MAXIMUM WEIGHT FOR UNDER 5 MONTHS EXHIBITS TO BE 1.360KG (3LB)
* 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 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 AND PATTERN - ANY COLOUR OR PATTERN ACCEPTED BY THE BREEDS STANDARDS COMMITTEE OF THE BRITISH RABBIT COUNCIL APART FROM THE BROKEN PATTERN.
* CONDITION - THE EXHIBIT SHOULD BE IN A PERFECT STATE OF HEALTH AND BODILY CONDITION, FREE FROM SOILING, PARTICULARLY OF THE FEET, EARS AND GENITAL PARTS. THE COAT SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL GOOD HEALTH OF THE EXHIBIT, WHICH SHOULD APPEAR ALERT AND VIGOROUS.
FAULTS
BODY TOO LONG; HEAD NOT SUFFICIENTLY CHARACTERISTIC OF THE BREED; PIMPLED OR DAMAGED EARS; POOR EAR CARRIAGE; EARS FOLDED; CROWN NOT DEVELOPED; FLY BACK COAT; LARGE DEWLAPS IN DOES; REAR FEET NOT PARALLEL TO THE BODY; LIGHT SOILING OF FEET, EARS AND GENITAL ORGANS; BARE PADS; FUR SLIGHTLY SOILED OR MATTED; LONG TOENAILS; LACK OF VITALITY
DISQUALIFICATIONS
MALOCCLUDED OR MUTILATED TEETH; OVER WEIGHT LIMIT; DEFORMITIES AND MUTILATIONS; DEFORMATION OF THE TEETH; FEET BOWED OR BENT; WHITE TOENAILS IN COLOURED EXHIBITS; WHITE NOSE ON BUTTERFLY PATTERN; CROOKED TAIL; ANY DISCERNIBLE ILLNESS OR DISEASE; BLINDNESS OR PARTIAL BLINDNESS; INCORRECT EYE COLOUR; ANY PARASITIC INFECTION; MUCH SOILING; MATTED COAT; SORE PADS (WHERE SKIN IS BROKEN OR SCABBED); ANY EVIDENCE OF IRREGULAR PREPERATION FOR EXHIBITION INCLUDING TRIMMING AND DYING
WHEN A RABBIT IS EXHIBITED THERE ARE A CERTAIN NUMBER OF POINTS APPOINTED TO EACH AREA THAT IS JUDGED TOTALLING 100 POINTS. FOR THE MINI LOP THESE ARE AS FOLLOWS:
AREA POINTS
1. TYPE 30
2. WEIGHT
3. COAT 20
4. HEAD, CROWN AND EYES
5. EARS 30
6. COLOUR AND PATTERN 15
7. CONDITION 5
TOTAL 100
THIS BREAKS DOWN IN THE FOLLOWING WAY, BASICALLY ON THE SHOW TABLE THE JUDGES ARE LOOKING FOR THE FOLLOWING CRITERIA IN YOUR SHOW RABBIT AND ATTRIBUTE POINTS TO EACH AREA, THE AIM IS TO BREED A RABBIT THAT MEETS ALL CRITERIA.
* TYPE (HOW YOUR RABBIT SHOULD LOOK) - BOLD, THICKSET AND FIRM. THE BODY SHOULD BE SHORT, BROAD AND WELL MUSCLED WITH LITTLE VISIBLE NECK. THE WELL MUSCLED RUMP IS SHORT AND WELL ROUNDED. THE CHEST IS BROAD AND DEEP WITH CURVED SIDES WHERE IT MEETS THE SHOULDERS. THE FRONT LEGS ARE THICK, SHORT AND STRAIGHT. THE HIND LEGS ARE SHORT, STRONG, POWERFUL AND CARRIED PARALLEL TO THE BODY. THE TAIL IS STRAIGHT, STRONG AND WELL FURRED. A SMALL DEWLAP IS PERMISSIBLE BUT NOT DESIRABLE.
* ADULT WEIGHT
IDEAL MAXIMUM
KG 1.5 1.6
Lb/Oz 3.4 3.8
MAXIMUM WEIGHT FOR UNDER 5 MONTHS EXHIBITS TO BE 1.360KG (3LB)
* 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 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 AND PATTERN - ANY COLOUR OR PATTERN ACCEPTED BY THE BREEDS STANDARDS COMMITTEE OF THE BRITISH RABBIT COUNCIL APART FROM THE BROKEN PATTERN.
* CONDITION - THE EXHIBIT SHOULD BE IN A PERFECT STATE OF HEALTH AND BODILY CONDITION, FREE FROM SOILING, PARTICULARLY OF THE FEET, EARS AND GENITAL PARTS. THE COAT SHOULD REFLECT THE OVERALL GOOD HEALTH OF THE EXHIBIT, WHICH SHOULD APPEAR ALERT AND VIGOROUS.
FAULTS
BODY TOO LONG; HEAD NOT SUFFICIENTLY CHARACTERISTIC OF THE BREED; PIMPLED OR DAMAGED EARS; POOR EAR CARRIAGE; EARS FOLDED; CROWN NOT DEVELOPED; FLY BACK COAT; LARGE DEWLAPS IN DOES; REAR FEET NOT PARALLEL TO THE BODY; LIGHT SOILING OF FEET, EARS AND GENITAL ORGANS; BARE PADS; FUR SLIGHTLY SOILED OR MATTED; LONG TOENAILS; LACK OF VITALITY
DISQUALIFICATIONS
MALOCCLUDED OR MUTILATED TEETH; OVER WEIGHT LIMIT; DEFORMITIES AND MUTILATIONS; DEFORMATION OF THE TEETH; FEET BOWED OR BENT; WHITE TOENAILS IN COLOURED EXHIBITS; WHITE NOSE ON BUTTERFLY PATTERN; CROOKED TAIL; ANY DISCERNIBLE ILLNESS OR DISEASE; BLINDNESS OR PARTIAL BLINDNESS; INCORRECT EYE COLOUR; ANY PARASITIC INFECTION; MUCH SOILING; MATTED COAT; SORE PADS (WHERE SKIN IS BROKEN OR SCABBED); ANY EVIDENCE OF IRREGULAR PREPERATION FOR EXHIBITION INCLUDING TRIMMING AND DYING