Crystal Creek Rabbitry

Rabbits were recently added to the American Livestock Breed Conservancy's list of Livestock Breeds that the Conservancy is working to save. The Conservancy is the pioneer organization in the U.S. working to conserve historic breeds and genetic diversity in livestock.

The Conservancy lists the Silver Fox as CRITICAL and the Blanc de Hotot as THREATENED. The Silver Fox is also an American Heritage Breed. This means it originated in the United States.

Rabbit breeds on the ALBC Conservation Priority List generally conform to certain genetic and numerical parameters.

1. The breed census satisfies numerical guidelines:

• Critical: Fewer than 50 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 500.
• Threatened: Fewer than 100 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 1,000.
• Watch: Fewer than 200 annual registrations in the United States and estimated global population less than 2,000. Also included are breeds that present genetic or numerical concerns or have a limited geographic distribution.
• Recovering: Breeds that were once listed in another category and have exceeded Watch category numbers but are still in need of monitoring.
• Study: Breeds that are of genetic interest but either lack definition or lack genetic or historical documentation.

2. The breed is a true genetic breed (when mated together, it reproduces the breed type).

3. The breed has an established and continuously breeding population in the United States since 1925. Or, if imported or developed since 1925,

• The foundation stock is no longer available.
• Must be below global guidelines for inclusion (see #1).
• Must have at least five breeders in different locations in the United States.
• The global population is threatened and the United States population is making a contribution to conservation of the breed.

Breeds not meeting all these criteria may be placed in the “Study” category and monitored.