Miniature Lion Lop

A show-winning Miniature Lion Lop.

The Miniature Lion Lop rabbit is a recognised breed by the BRC.^[1] It has lopped ears and the mane of the Lionhead and should weigh between 1.5-1.6 kg (3.4-3.8 lbs). The Miniature Lion Lop was developed in England in the early 2000s and accepted by the BRC in 2006.The breed was pioneered by rabbit breeder Jane Bramley, who contributed a lot of work into getting the breed recognised. The breed is similar to the very common Miniature Lop, only with the addition of a mane around the head and a 'bib' on the chest. The breed is growing in popularity within the UK.

Breeding

Ovulation is induced by sexual stimulation. Sexual maturity age for small breeds like the Miniature Lion Lop is 4 to 5 months. Males usually require more time to fully mature, and normally reach adult sperm counts between 6–7 months.

Due to the territorial nature of female rabbits, it is standard practice for the doe to always be brought to the buck's cage. When the doe is brought to the bucks' cage, he quickly mounts her, performs pelvic thrusting culminating in ejaculation, and "flops" off. The whole act may take less than 30 seconds, and is often repeated several times. When he is finished, the buck should then be removed, but many breeders will reintroduce the buck a few hours later to increase the size of the litter.

Mane

The maning gene is dominant, therefore, both parents do not need a mane to pass it on to offspring; however, one parent must have a mane. It cannot be "carried" by Mini Lops. There are two genes involved – 'M' and 'm'.

The mm would be a rabbit with no mane (so this would be a Mini Lop).
The Mm would be a rabbit with a single mane.
The MM would be a rabbit with a double mane.

So some possible outcomes may be:

mm × mm = 100% mm, so all Mini Lop offspring in the litter.
mm × Mm = 50% mm and 50% Mm, so half Mini Lop and half single-maned Mini Lion Lop offspring in the litter.
mm × MM = 100% Mm, so all single-maned Mini Lion Lop offspring in the litter.
Mm × Mm = 50% Mm, 25% mm, and 25% MM
Mm × MM = 50% Mm and 50% MM
MM × MM = 100% MM

Double-maned Mini Lion Lop kits are easily recognisable. They are often informally referred to as "gremlins", because of their appearance. Compared to a single maned kit, there is a large difference. "Gremlins" tend to have a V shape on the back, where the fur starts to grow.

Colours and standardisation

Miniature Lion Lop fanciers are still currently working on getting all the colours standardised, because the Breeds Standards Committee have not allowed all colours that are accepted by other Lop breeds to be accepted within the Miniature Lion Lops. Three generations (with a minimum of two specimens in each generation) of show-quality Miniature Lion Lops are required in the colour the breeders wish to be accepted.

Colours currently accepted are:

White (red- or blue-eyed)
Black
Blue
Agouti
Opal
Iron grey
Sooty fawn
Fawn
Orange
Light Siamese sable
Medium Siamese sable
Dark Siamese sable
Siamese smoke
Black fox
Black otter
Steel
Beige
Chocolate
Seal-point
Blue-point
Butterfly pattern

Upton's Butter, fawn Mini Lion Lop. BiS LLUK Mansfield 2008
Barrow Bunnies PJ, medium sable Mini Lion Lop. Best Lop Puddletown
Upton's Alistair, sooty fawn Mini Lion Lop. Best Lop and Runner Up BiS Mansfield
Barrow Bunnies Moon, REW Mini Lion Lop. BiS LLUK Southern Championship Show 2012
Zashion's Beatrice, dark sable Mini Lion Lop
Wrixel Stud's blue-point Mini Lion Lop. With BoB certificate
Steel Mini Lion Lop, bred by J. Bramley. BiS Adult Stock Show @ All Lop Show 2009
Fawn Mini Lion Lop, bred by S. Grainger. BiS Young Stock Show @ All Lop Show 2009
Zashion's Flower, black butterfly Mini Lion Lop. Bred by Zashion Stud
Chintastic's Oops a Daisy, sable Mini Lion Lop.

Lion Lops UK (LLUK)

LLUK is a national club devoted to the furthering of the breed. It was established in 2007, founded and chaired by Jane Bramley, the fancier who first pioneered the breed. LLUK provides stock shows around the country to benefit the keen exhibitors of the Mini Lion Lop breed.

References

↑ BRC Breed Standard Archived 2012-04-25 at the Wayback Machine.

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