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| American |
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| About the American: |
The American Blue rabbit orginally comes from Pasadena, California,
developed and introduced by Lewis H. Salisbury in 1917. Like many American people, the American breed rabbit is a combination of immigrants welded together by blood to become a distinctly different and American creation. At least three different breeds of rabbit were used. The American White variety
was introduced in 1925.
But we can see the heritage of this American Breed when we look at it, we see the Flemish, the Vienna, and the Imperial in the mandolin shaped American. This unique shape is shared in the U.S. by the Flemish
Giant and the Beveren. Before the European War (WWI), the American
Blue was known as the German Blue, but was re-named after the war,
just like many immigrants who naturalized here.
Intended as a meat and fur rabbit, the American standard calls for
bucks to weigh 9 lbs and does to weigh 10 lbs at senior weight.
Long in body, low in the shoulder, the topline rises high over the
hindquarter and down again, with a wide meaty loin. The color of
the American Blue is supposed to be the bluest of all the blue
rabbits.
Since the development of compact and commercial type rabbits like
the New Zealand and Californians, the American breed has lost its
position as a leader and is now completely ignored by the commercial
market. Currently there are a small number of faithful breeders
keeping this American original alive.
By the standards of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, if
this were a cattle or goat breed, it would be rated as "critical"
for potential loss (extinction). The Blue Imperial is already
extinct. The Vienna Blue is gone from the U.S. and hard to find in
Germany. We encourage breeders to take on the American Blue and White
as a heritage animal, to keep something that is unique to our national
history and culture.
Not just a historical curiosity, the American is a good meat, fur
and show rabbit. With some breeding care, the American can be a
large and hardy animal, with large litters and fast weight gain
potential. A good American is large and hard to ignore on the show
table.
The reason it has survived for almost 100 years is because of the
potential that was developed by Lewis H. Salisbury. The potential is
in there, waiting to be tapped by the American rabbit breeder.
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| Information Provided By: American Blue & White Rabbit Club |
| Photo Provided By: American Blue & White Rabbit Club |
| Official Website: American Blue & White Rabbit Club |
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