The English Lop is a fancy breed of
domestic rabbit that was developed in England in the 19th century through
selective breeding
Selective breeding (also called artificial selection) is the process by which humans use animal breeding and plant breeding to selectively develop particular phenotypic traits (characteristics) by choosing which typically animal or plant m ...
. It is believed to be the first breed of lop rabbit developed by humans, and it may be one of the oldest breeds of domestic rabbit. Averaging , the English Lop is characterised by its distinctively long lop ears, bold head, and large body size.
History
As the first lop breed, the English Lop was developed in England in the 19th century for exhibition as an early "fancy" breed—in response to the rising
animal fancy
Animal fancy is a hobby involving the appreciation, promotion, or breeding of pet or domestic animals.
Fancy may include ownership, showing, animal sports and other competitions, and breeding. Hobbyists may simply collect specimens of the anima ...
of the time. During the
Victorian era
In the history of the United Kingdom and the British Empire, the Victorian era was the period of Queen Victoria's reign, from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. The era followed the Georgian period and preceded the Edwardia ...
, the English Lop emerged as a mainstream household pet, marking a departure for such "fancy" breeds from the earlier role of the domesticated rabbit as a source of meat,
fur
Fur is a thick growth of hair that covers the skin of mammals. It consists of a combination of oily guard hair on top and thick underfur beneath. The guard hair keeps moisture from reaching the skin; the underfur acts as an insulating blanket t ...
, and
wool
Wool is the textile fibre obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have properties similar to animal wool. ...
production. Later, the English Lop was bred with other rabbit breeds from the continent, giving rise to new lop breeds that include the
French Lop (from English Lop /
Flemish Giant Not to be confused with the Continental Giant rabbit
The Flemish Giant rabbit is the largest breed of domestic rabbit (''Oryctolagus cuniculus domesticus''). Flemish Giants are historically a utility breed used for their fur and meat. They are o ...
crosses) and the
Holland Lop
Holland Lop is a breed of rabbit that was recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) in 1979 and by the Netherlands' Governing Rabbit Council in 1984. The Holland Lop, with a maximum weight of (as stipulated by ARBA), is one o ...
(from French Lop /
Netherland Dwarf
The Netherland Dwarf is a breed of domestic rabbit that originated in the Netherlands. Weighing , the Netherland Dwarf is one of the smallest rabbit breeds. Its popularity as a pet or show rabbit may stem from its neotenic appearance. The Net ...
crosses).
Appearance
The English Lop, though longer and more slender in body than other lop breeds, has ears up to in length tip to tip—the longest ears of any rabbit breed. The ears of English Lops reach the end of their growth at approximately 5 months of age, although the ears of males can gain as much as an inch .
[GoPetsAmerica – Small Animals – Rabbits – English Lop]
English Lops are bred in both solids and brokens (colors broken by white) and within this, they can come in several different colours, including (but not limited to) Black, orange/fawn, blue, agouti/opal, chinchilla, Red Eyed White, and blue and black torts. The
American Rabbit Breeders Association
The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) is a national Club (organization), club for domestic rabbit and cavy breeders. The ARBA is headquartered in Knox, Pennsylvania in the United States. Its membership is composed of rabbit and cavy bree ...
allows all recognised lop colours to be shown in either Solid or Broken groups other than pointed whites. English lops have a smooth, 'flyback' short coat, and their ears should be properly furred and silky to the touch. In body they should resemble a mandolin cut in half, a wide nose and broad head with no visible crown, long, loose hanging ears, strong shoulders and a rise that results in a round, deep body over the hips and flanks.
Breeding
The female English Lop rabbit is known to be particularly prolific, with rich
milk
Milk is a white liquid food produced by the mammary glands of mammals. It is the primary source of nutrition for young mammals (including breastfed human infants) before they are able to digest solid food. Immune factors and immune-modula ...
, and a good maternal sense, and can produce large
litters
Litter consists of waste products that have been discarded incorrectly, without consent, at an unsuitable location. Litter can also be used as a verb; to litter means to drop and leave objects, often man-made, such as aluminum cans, paper cups ...
of 5–12, with a gestation period of 28–35 days. On average they give birth at 30–32 days. It is during the first 16 weeks of life that the ears undergo their most rapid growth, doubling in size each week in the first month.
[Central Pets – Mammals – Rabbits – English Lop] At about four weeks old, the ears are longer than the body.
Records
On 1 November 2003 the ears of an English Lop called Nipper's Geronimo were measured at 79 cm (31.125 in) in a complete span at the American Rabbit Breeders Association National Convention in
Wichita, Kansas
Wichita ( ) is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kansas and the county seat of Sedgwick County. As of the 2020 census, the population of the city was 397,532. The Wichita metro area had a population of 647,610 in 2020. It is located in ...
, USA and are recorded as the largest measured ear-span of a rabbit, and a Guinness World Record.
See also
*
Domestic rabbit
*
List of rabbit breeds
As of 2017, there were at least 305 breeds of domestic rabbit in 70 countries around the world. A rabbit breed is a distinct variety created through selective breeding (or occasionally natural selection) for specific characteristics, including si ...
*
Lop rabbit
Lop rabbit or lop-eared rabbit refers to any rabbit with ears that droop, as opposed to being carried erect. A number of rabbit breeds (listed below) are characterized by such lop ears. Abnormalities in the skull of a half-lop rabbit were studie ...
References
Further reading
*{{cite book, last=Dean, first=Warren M., title=Small Animals Care & Management, publisher=Cenage, orig-year=1995, year=2016, edition=4th, page=288, isbn=978-1-285-42552-8
External links
Different Rabbit Breeds
Lop rabbits
Rabbit breeds originating in England
Rabbit breeds
Animal breeds on the GEH Red List
de:Widderkaninchen#Englische Widder