Bunny Island Rabbitry - More
|
The Language of the Rabbit Show Table
(used with permission of Eric Tudor of Riverwind Rabbitry)
In an ARBA Sanctioned and Judged Show:
BOB - Best of Breed - Judged the best rabbit of that breed.
BOS - Best Opposite Sex - Judged the best of the opposite
sex of the BOB
rabbit. For example, if a doe wins BOB, then the judge will choose the
best buck for the
BOS.
BOV - Best Of Variety - The rabbit judged best of its variety.
"Variety" is the
same as "color" in most breeds. Some breeds only come in one color,
and BOV does not
apply. "Variety" can mean something else in some breeds. In Angoras, all
whites are shown
together, and BOV is the designation for
the Best White. All colors are shown together, and BOV is the
designation for the Best
Colored. The Lop breeds have a similar situation, but their varieties are
designated as being
either Solid or Broken.
BOSV - Best Opposite Sex of Variety - Judged the best rabbit
of the opposite
sex of the BOV rabbit.
BOG - Best Of Group - In some breeds, varieties are lumped
together, and
shown in groups (Harlequin and Jersey Wooly), or first shown in
individual varieties, then
the best of each group is chosen (Netherland Dwarf).
BOSG - Best Opposite Sex of Group - Judged the best rabbit
of the opposite
sex of the BOG rabbit.
Best 4-Class - Judged the best rabbit of all the breeds that
have four showroom
classes. The four classes being: Senior buck, senior doe, junior buck,
and junior doe. This
is an optional award.
Best 6-Class - Judged the best rabbit of all the breeds that
have six showroom
classes. The six classes being: Senior buck, senior doe, intermediate (also
called 6-8) buck,
intermediate (also called 6-8) doe, junior buck, and junior doe. Some of
these breeds also
have a pre-junior class, which is not
counted. This is an optional award.
BIS - Best In Show - Judged as the best rabbit in the rabbit
show. BIS may be
chosen by comparing all the BOB winners, or a Best 4-Class and a Best
6-Class may be
chosen first, and the BIS chosen from these two winners. Another
method, is to designate
several groups, with several breeds in
each group, choose a Best of each Group, then choose BIS from the
group winners.
Usually, only very large shows use this method. All shows are required
to choose a BIS.
RIS - Reserve In Show - Judged the second best rabbit in the
show. This is an
optional award. If a Best 4-Class and a Best 6-Class are chosen first, the
RIS is the one not
chosen for BIS.
Runner-up BIS - Same as RIS. Termonology may be
different in different areas
of the country.
In a 4-H or Non-ARBA Sanctioned Show:
Champion - Judged the best rabbit in a certain "group" of
rabbits, as
designated by the show committee. Rabbits may be grouped by breed, or
some other
criteria, such as "fancy" and "commercial", "all other breeds", "grade",
"meat pen", "single
fryer", etc.
Reserve Champion - Judged the best of the opposite sex of
the Champion
rabbit. For instance, if a doe wins Champion, then the judge will choose
the best buck for
the Reserve Champion. Except, in meat pen or single fryer, Reserve
Champion is the
second place pen or rabbit, regardless of sex.
Grand Champion - Judged as the best rabbit in the show, or a
certain part of
the show. This award is chosen by comparing all of the Champion
rabbits. Meat pens and
single fryers are usually divided from "breeding" classes, so two or more
Grand Champions
may be awarded in a show.
Reserve Grand Champion - Judged as the best of the
opposite sex of the
Grand Champion rabbit. Except, in meat pen or single fryer, Reserve
Grand Champion is
the second place pen or rabbit, regardless of sex.
The above terms are common all across the US. But be aware that in
4-H and non-ARBA
sanctioned shows, the show sponsor is free to make rules, and award
placements as they
see fit, so there could be variations.
ARBA Terms:
Grand Champion - A rabbit who has won at least three
"Leg" papers (under at
least 2 different ARBA judges, and with at least one win as an
intermediate or senior), is
registered, and has obtained a Grand Champion Certificate, with a Grand
Champion
number, from ARBA.
Pedigreed - A rabbit who has a written record of at least
three generations of
ancestors. This information should include name and/or ear number,
weight and color, plus
any other information available, such as winnings, registration numbers,
and Grand
Champion numbers. A pedigree form is made out by the
breeder of the rabbit. A pedigreed rabbit is usually a purebred, but not
necessarily. A
pedigeed rabbit usually has a tattoo in its left ear, which corresponds to
the ear number on
its pedigree paper.
Registered - A rabbit who is purebred, fully pedigreed, has
passed the
inspection of an ARBA Registrar, and has received a Registration
Certificate and number
from ARBA. A registered rabbit should have a number or circled "R"
tattooed in its right
ear.
Leg - An official certificate issued by a Show Secretary,
designating a certain
win. In all cases, a leg will only be issued if there are at least 5 rabbits
competing for that
particular win, with at least 3 breeders of those rabbits. A "Leg" may be
awarded for First
Place in a class, BOB, BOS, BOV, BOSV,
BOG, BOSG, or BIS. A rabbit can only get one Leg per show.
RABBIT JUDGING JARGON:
What is a LEG and what does it mean in rabbit judging? (By Betty
Chu)
The first time I went to a rabbit show, I saw a teenager holding a cute
rabbit. I
commented, "That is a nice rabbit!" She answered, "Oh yes, she has two
legs."
I looked and looked; this rabbit had four legs on its body, I couldn't
figure out why she
said they rabbit had only two. Recently, I was in a rabbit show. Two
ladies came by and
wanted to buy one of my bunnies. I said, "Both of his parents are grand
champions. His
papa has six legs and his mama has five legs." They gave me a blank
stare. I realized then
that they were as confused as I was years ago when I first attended a
rabbit show.
Here is how it works, you enter your breed of rabbit in a show, along
with other breeders
of the same breed. Unless all the rabbits entered are unworthy of an
award, the judge
usually will place the animals from the last to the first. If the class has at
least five rabbits
shown and these five rabbits are entered by three or
more different exhibitors, the first place rabbit gets a leg.
Disqualifications are counted in the
number of animals shown except when a wrong sex is entered, such as, a
buck is entered as
a doe. If there are two white senior bucks and three white junior bucks
entered, the first
place senior buck and the first junior buck do
not get a leg automatically after winning the first place. However,
provided that these five
white bucks are entered by three or more exhibitors, if the first place
white junior buck wins
over the senior, the junior wins a leg, the senior doesn't, and vice versa.
If one white senior
buck, one white junior buck, two white senior
does and one white junior doe are shown, of these four classes, only the
Best White wins a
leg if these five rabbits are entered by three or more exhibitors.
During the show, a judge will select in each variety the first place
winner of the senior
buck, junior buck, senior doe and junior doe, usually in this order. In the
same variety, the
senior buck will be compared against the junior buck and the winner
stays on the table. The
senior doe will be compared against the junior doe,
the winner stays. Then the winner buck will be judged against the winner
doe. The winner of
the two will be the Best of Variety (BOV) and the other will be the Best
Opposite Sex of the
Variety (BOSV). At this time, there should be four rabbits on the table, a
colored buck, a
colored doe, a white buck and a white doe.
The Best White will be judged against the Best Colored and the winner is
the Best of Breed
(BOB). If the Best of Breed winner is a doe, then the two remaining
bucks will be compared
and the winner is the Best Opposite Sex of the Breed (BOS). If the BOB
winner is a buck,
then the two remaining does will be
compared for the BOS.
To summarize, it takes at least five rabbits and three
exhibitors to qualify a leg
for one rabbit. If a rabbit wins three legs which were awarded by at least
two different
judges, with at least one leg being a senior leg, and this rabbit is
registered by an ARBA
licensed registrar, this rabbit
qualifies to become a Grand Champion. The owner mails the three
original leg certificates
with registration number and $4.00 to the secretary of the ARBA. The
secretary of the
ARBA will send back a Grand Champion Certificate with a grand
champion number
assigned to this rabbit. One rabbit
qualifies for one grand champion certificate in his lifetime.
An owner still can
show this rabbit after being "granded", the legs earned after that are just
for the honor rather
than working toward the certificate. (note: I added italics and underline
in last paragraph.)
BUNNY ISLAND RABBITRY
|
We want to thank the following people who have helped us!
|
- Jody Rosnik sold us our first Tri Mini Rex rabbit, “Trillion.”
- Liz Nichols of Rose Rabbitry offered wonderful help and advice with
getting us on the
right course with quality Mini Rex.
- We bought some great Mini Rex rabbits from Liz Nichols, Shannon
Fizer of Cambridge Rabbitry, Jane Delling of Baty’s Rabbitry, Lynn and Bob Layne of Shawn
Bob’s Rabbit Ranch, Justin Blake Barbee of 2nd Tri's Rabbitry and Kathy Tellechea of KT's
Bunny Barn. Recently bought Sunny Days from Jessica Danser.
- Bob Bergene sold us our first Chinchilla Dutch (2016). His video and
rabbitry website (see links page) are very informative.
- Jean Gregg, Robin Vogel and Bobbi Waters were extremely helpful in our new venture with
the Polish breed.
- Also, many thanks to Kay Miller for all her help with health issues,
fostering and being there to answer lots of rabbit questions!!
|
For more information, please e-mail therese@westsidepioneer.com
or call 719-372-1688.
Happy Homes!

B.I's Thumper & Makenna (Brkn Blk Otter:
G.C./R.G.C.)
|

Olivia and Peony (Broken Blue Otter).
|

Caitlin and Josie (Blue Otter Tort - Fox).
|
|
|

Byerly sisters with Alyse (Black) and Tianna
(Broken Blue)
|

Makai and Amelia (Harlequin)
|

Dillon with Scooter (Broken Black Polish
doe)
|

Blake with Whisper (Broken Black Polish
buck)
|
|
|
|
|
|