White Rabbit of Hotot. Rabbit with qualities for meat, skin and exhibition.
Summary
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- 1Origen
- 1 Crossbreeding
- 2 Raza pura
- 2 Sources
Origen
Originally from Hotot-en-Auge, in Normandy (northern France). Madame Eugenie Bernhardt, Chatelaine du Calvados, who owned a large farm of Flemish Giants and Butterflies, was the one who developed the White Hotot. Her mission was to produce a large, black-eyed rabbit with qualities for many things, meat, fur and display.
Crossing
It was in 1902 when he began crossing a Mariposa with various white rabbits such as the White of Vienna or white Flanders Giants. These crosses did not give him any results.
Bernhard consulted Jeanne J. Lemarie, the creator of the Giant Himalayan, he explained that he created his race after many years, only using the Himalayan. Bernhard decided that he would only work with crosses between Butterflies.
In the process of elimination, Bernhard saved the animals that were less marked. The first mark that disappeared were the spots on the sides, the spots on the ears and the spine were much more difficult.
The stain around the eyes was impossible to eradicate. Several years passed and Bernhard refused to sell any of his rabbits as they were still born with eye tags. Judge Mr. Frederick Joppick confirmed that the eye marks were impossible to remove. The White Hotot that we know today has the desired characteristics since 1912.
Purebred
In 1929 Bernhard exhibited the breed for the first time at the Exposition Internationale d’Aviculture in Paris, calling the breed Blanco de Hotot Gigante.
The standard established by Bernhard was officially recognized and accepted by the Commission des Standards de Française in October 1922.
The White Hotot is hard to find today, but there are several breeders willing to continue the breed in America.
