Rabbits

MANUALS

• Level 1, What’s Happening - grades 3, 4, and 5

• Level 2, Making Tracks - grades 6, 7, and 8

• Level 3, All Ears - 9 and above

EXHIBIT OPTIONS

Exhibit Options: Members may choose to exhibit any combination of live animals, a poster and\or present a Project Interact detailing some aspect of the project.   The poster and Project Interact options may be in place of or in addition to the live animal exhibit.   For information on Animal Posters please see the guidelines under the Animal Education project section of this handbook.  Poster projects are entered during pre-fair judging weeks.  Please refer to the pre-fair schedule for specific dates and times for Animal Education check-in.  Members wishing to give a Project Interact are to setup a suitable time with the project superintendent(s).

GENERAL RULES

1. The 4-Her must complete three activities from the rabbit manual before the fair or participate in the rabbit ambassadors competition  If the 4-Her choose to complete the manual at least two of these must be from the “Required/Chapter Activities” section. This manual MUST be turned in when the animals are checked in at the 4-H Fair. If not turned in, you WILL NOT show.

2. All rabbits must be in the possession and care of the 4-Her by May 15 of the current year. All Rabbits will need to be entered into the animal tab on 4H Online with their Breed, Sex and Tattoo Prior to the May 15th deadline in order to be entered into a class at the fair. A 4Her may enter more rabbits into 4H-online than they plan to exhibit and then select their actual entries during the Fair Entry Process. All rabbits must be entered into 4H Online to be eligible to be shown at the fair with the exception of Meat Pens/Single Fryers.

3. Pre-entry must be done prior to the fair to assure cage space. Each rabbit’s pre-entry information will include its breed, variety and class that the exhibitor intends to show. The animal’s tattoo should also be included on the entry form. One cage will be provided per entry. Should the total number of animals entered for exhibit at the fair exceed the available number of cages and space it shall be at the project superintendent’s discretion to reduce the number of allowed entries per exhibitor.

4. Entries are to be purebred or have all the characteristics of a purebred. All rabbits must be permanently marked for identification in the left ear with letter(s), number(s), or both per ARBA Guidelines.

5. A meat pen consists of three rabbits of the same breed and variety, weighing between 3½ pounds to 5½ pounds each, and not over 70 days of age.

6. A Single Fryer is a rabbit weighing between 3 ½ pounds to 5 ½ pounds each and not over 70 days of age.

7. A Stewer is a rabbit weighing over 8lbs and over 6 months of age.

8. A Roaster is a rabbit weighing between 5½ pounds and 8 pounds and under 6 months of age.

9. A Rabbit must be entered in a regular breed class before it can be entered as a roaster or stewer, Exhibitors are allowed to exhibit 1 animal in Roaster and 1 animal in Stewer.

10. A rabbit must be entered in a regular class before it can be entered in a Fur Class. Classes are wool, normal fur, Rex Fur and Satin Fur. 4-H member may enter one (1) animal per class and the classes must be selected in Fair Entry. The ear tattoo of the animal to be shown in the fur class will be designated during check in. Condition, density, texture, and balance of fur will be considered.

11. A member may exhibit no more than two rabbit in each class, with a maximum of 10 breeding animals if space allows (see #2) and one meat pen.  Exhibitors that have just completed grades 9 thru 12 have a maximum number of breeding animals of 25.  They are still limited to 2 animals per class.

12. A member may exhibit 1 animal in a bred and owned class.   This animal must be entered in a regular class before it can be entered in bred and owned.  The ear tattoo of the animal to be shown in bred and owned will be designated during check in. In order to be eligible for the bred and owned class the 4-Her must own both sire and dam and have raised the animal in their barn and meet at least 2 of the following criteria:

    • Documentation of the litter being raised (Pictures as they grow, breeding documentation, building nest boxes, weaning dates, etc)

    • Full 3 generation pedigrees for animals

    • Superintendent verification of animals in 4-Her possession via barn visit, animals brought to meeting, or other arrangement

13. Class weights are established by the American Rabbit Breeders Association.

14. No More than 5 Rabbit Meat Pens may sell in the auction. Exhibitors will be offered the opportunity to sell in the order in which they placed in the class until there are no more exhibitors or the maximum number of 5 meat pen auction entries is reached. The Champion Roaster and Champion Stewer will also be eligible to sell in the auction. The superintendent will meet with each eligible 4H member at the conclusion of the show to discuss participation in the auction. The 4-H member will be responsible for completing all required paperwork related to the auction and submitting it to the Fair Office.

15. Exhibitors may sell their rabbits privately, but “For Sale” signs will not be permitted on the grounds. Rabbits sold must be checked-out at the regular time by the exhibitor, before being released to the buyer.

16. Exhibitors are expected to care for their animals throughout the week of fair including ensuring appropriate feed, fresh water and under cage cleanup per the posted guidelines. Failure to follow these guidelines will result in the exhibitor not being able to show the next year.

17. Please see the updated fair schedule posted in late spring for further details about check in and check out for rabbits. Animal must remain in their cages until the start of the published check-out time. They are not to be placed in carriers before this time for the well-being of the animal. Any exhibitor removing rabbits before checkout time without the prior written permission of the superintendent and the 4-H Extension Educator will forfeit all premium money and will not be allowed to show the next year.

18. A pen fee will be charged at check in, as set forth by the Exhibit Association. The amount will be announced prior to check in.

19. Rabbits that are entered in a class may be changed during check in with the following restrictions

    1. The animal to be substituted must be the same breed and sex as the animal they are to replace

    2. 4Hers are still only allowedup to 2 animal per class

    3. The animal to be substituted must have been entered into 4H Online by the May 15th Deadline

20. Rabbits may be moved to a different class at check-in at the fair given the following guidelines

    1. The animal meets the requirements set forth in the current ARBA Standard of perfections

    2. The 4Her would not end up with more than 2 animals in the same class

Spirit Award  

The award is based on good sportsmanship, attitude, attendance at rabbit project meetings, helpfulness toward other rabbit project members, helpfulness toward the leader, behavior during the fair, care of their rabbit (or rabbits) at home, and care of their rabbit (or rabbits) during the fair. The award is designed to teach the 4-Her to take the responsibility for their own project. It also gives the 4-Her who may only have an average rabbit an award for which he can strive. The Project leaders will accept nomincations for recipients during setup, check in and show day. The recipient will be selected by the leader of the rabbit project, and will be presented during the fair.