Monday, January 25, 2016

Cheat Sheet: Understanding the Vienna Gene in Rabbits (Blue Eyed Whites)

Before we get to the cheat sheets, you need to remember that a Blue Eyed White will "hide" the base color of the rabbit in it's homozygous form. Thus a "black" rabbit who has two copies of the Vienna gene (V/V) will appear white with blue eyes.

Also, I cannot stress it enough, the Vienna gene in it's heterozygous form (V/v) might not be visually expressed, so it can pop up many, even dozens of generations later. Because of this, it is recommended that if there is Vienna in a rabbit's background, it be noted on their pedigree even if the last known Vienna carrier or BEW is many generations back. Full disclosure, transparency, and honesty are appreciated when dealing with this gene locus.

Also it has come to my attention that many people use the lowercase v to signify the Vienna gene, and the capital V to signify non-Vienna rabbits. I am SO sorry for any confusion that this has caused. As such please take this discrepancy into account when discussing genetics!!!!





CLIFF'S NOTES FOR VIENNA/BLUE EYED WHITES:

If you don't want to worry about Punnett squares or inheritance and just want to know what you will get through breeding, here is a basic rundown:

For these examples, the abbreviation "BEW" signifies a Blue Eyed White; "Vienna Carrier" signifies a rabbit that has one copy of the Vienna gene; "Non-Vienna" signifies a rabbit that has no Vienna genes.

BEW + BEW = 100% BEW. NO EXCEPTIONS.

BEW + Vienna Carrier = 50% BEW, 50% Vienna Carrier.

BEW + Non-Vienna = 100% Vienna Carrier. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Vienna Carrier + Vienna Carrier = 50% Vienna Carrier, 25% Non-Vienna, 25% BEW.

Vienna Carrier + Non-Vienna = 50% Vienna Carrier, 50% Non-Vienna.

Non-Vienna + Non-Vienna = 100% Non-Vienna. NO EXCEPTIONS.

Remember, a Vienna Carrier or BEW bred to a Non-Vienna will NEVER PRODUCE BEW!!!! 

Also remember that while many Vienna Carriers have white markings and may even have blue eyes, there are far more that do not visually express the gene AT ALL, so you cannot tell just by looking at a rabbit if they are a Vienna Carrier or not. This is why making notation of BEW or Vienna heritage possibilities on pedigrees is so important!

Another thing to consider is that many breeders AVOID breeding Chocolate into BEW programs due to undesirable eye coloration.

Lastly, something to keep in mind is that the percentages listed above are for EACH KIT, not the litter as a whole unless the result is 100% foolproof. This means that each kit in a little of, say, BEW to Vienna Carrier mating, has a 50% chance of being BEW. As such actual litter percentages may vary!

If you have any further questions, please feel free to comment below!

37 comments:

  1. Hi. I'm wondering if you can help me with the genetics of my rabbit. I bought her from a pet shop with a promise that she was pure breed lop but her ears hadn't dropped yet. I googled that. And found , thay sometimes, that is so. However she is 5 months old not and no sight of ears dropping! Anyway. She has two different coloured eyes and mainly equity white black on her bottom and around her eyes. She has four white feet. Does she carry the Vienna gene? What would be the best partner for her? I can send pics if interested?

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    1. No expert here, but I think your rabbit is a vienna carrier. The Dutch gene could give white markings too but should only give brown eyes. They blue eye is your give away that it's vienna.

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    2. No expert here, but I think your rabbit is a vienna carrier. The Dutch gene could give white markings too but should only give brown eyes. They blue eye is your give away that it's vienna.

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    3. Your rabbit is a Marbled Eyed Vienna Mark. If you're looking to produce VMs and BEWs from her, breed her to a BEW. And if you're looking for mainly VMs, breed her to another VM. Here are the chances for what you'll get when crossing her. Keep in mind that this is each kits chance, not the whole litter's chance.
      BEW X Vienna Mark = 50% BEW, 50% Vienna Carriers
      Vienna Mark X Vienna Mark = 50% Vienna Carriers, 25% Non-Vienna, 25% BEW
      Vienna Mark X Non-Vienna = 50% Vienna Carrier, 50% Non-Vienna
      The Vienna gene's markings are completely at random, so there's no guarantee that even any would turn out VM, but those are each kit's chance.

      Did you receive a pedigree for her? If not, there is actually no promise she is a purebred as pet stores often lie about those things. The ears not dropping is normal, sometimes it just happens with lops. Her ears will stay like that permanently. They should've dropped within the first 3 months of her life at the very MOST, if they didn't they never will. 0% chance they will. I think it just adds character, it doesn't harm or mess up anything.

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  2. I have a vienna marked Chestnut teddy lionhead. No known history as she was received from someone who didn't want her anymore. I'm wanting to add her to my rabbit tracking program with genetics. What is the genetic code for the double wool gene?

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  3. I would like to use you graphics in one of the next Hollander issues. I would like permission to do so.
    Thanks in advance.

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    1. I'm happy with that as long as I get my name against her and I'm sent a copy of the information

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  4. Hello, I have a purebred white blue eyed lion head (male) looking to breed with a purebred mini lop. What is your option on that?

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    1. I would NOT cross breed two very differing breeds.

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  5. I bred my Dutch to my rex,then bred one of those kits back to Dutch sire. I will breed a resulting offspring to my bew.Do I have a chance of getting blue eyed kits?Also,what do they mean,Dutch is completely different genetics?

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  6. Hi, wondering if you can tell me what the genetic difference is between a Vienna marked rabbit that just has a small white spot and a Vienna marked rabbit with much larger white areas? What controls how much white the rabbit will have? Is there a way to breed them to have the larger areas rather that just a spot? I am not talking about the broken gene. Just the Vienna gene. Thanks.

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  7. Thanks for taking the time to make this! it has been incredibly helpful. Question for you: I found a BEW holland lop. In my ignorance I bred her to a chocolate lop of all things. She had 4 vm babies, as you said. I kept one and bred it back to the BEW. The BEW had FIVE BEW! And, I do not see any ruby casting, although they are young, perhaps it will show up. What happened here? And now do I breed on, or begin again because of the threat of ruby cast? Thanks if you can help. All of these info charts are just great.

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  8. Hi i have a chocolate VS, which came out of a black and white VE and a harliquin VS. She has blue eyes but also has a pink tinge, why would this happen? Can I also breed her to a BEW or will that keep the pink colour in the blue eyes?

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    Replies
    1. Hi there, sometimes the chocolate gene causes the eyes to have a pink tinge :) if you breed her to a BEW only the kits that have a chocolate base have a chance to have that same pink tinge but not all chocolate kits will, some will have normal eyes :)

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  9. Hi,
    I’m a new breeder, this is my first time trying to pair my bunny.

    My questions are : I have a Male black otter( kit of Magpie & BEW ) I’m looking for a Female bunny to mate with him. Between black VM( blue eyes ), Broken blue tort, White broken black with mark on both of her eyes( like cats eyes makeup ).

    Which female should I mate with my otter to get VM( my point is to get an a broken kits )

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  10. What do you mean by "( my point is to get an a broken kits)" ?

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  11. I bred my BEW to a Broken Black Tort and 2 of the kits came out with marble blue/purple eyes... My question is, does this mean that this is a VM??

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  12. I bred my BEW to a Broken Black Tort and 2 of the kits came out with marble blue/purple eyes... My question is, does this mean that this is a VM??

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  13. What color buck is best to pair with a black tort blue eyed VM doe?The doe has only a small white spot on her nose I’d like to get kits that are a bit more VM marked ( more white) And preferably not black tort . Is that asking too much?

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    1. For more markings breed to a Blue Eyed White or a Vienna split or Vienna extreme. What colour Vienna split/extreme will depend on what colours you DO want. But you wont get black torts if you breed to a rabbit that does not have the recesive extention gene - the E genes. Or has the dominant A gene (Agouti gene on the A area. Or you could try to get rid of the dominant C (potentially a bit more difficult) What colour do you want to produce with the Vienna markings? and what can you get?

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  15. Hi, I'm wondering if my rabbit which is a fawn butterfly color with blue eyes is a vienna marked? Do the blue eyes mean its a vienna marked?

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    1. I am not an expert on the subject especially where eye colour is concerned but I think the answer is yes it probably means it is at least a Vienna Carrier. To be a Vienna Marked means it has a white patch caused by the Vienna gene which you can not tell if it has that because it is a butterfly which causes a lot of white.

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  16. I just purchased a BEW buck. Am looking for a female to breed him to now. I would like to get a mix of BEW kits and broken colored kits with a lot of white in them. What color doe should I get?
    But his pedigree says he can only be used in a BEW breeding program and may only be bred to BEW. Is that correct?
    Thank you for your time.

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  17. BEW is a white rabbit cause by two Vienna genes.You can purchase any doe that has Vienna markings. You will possibly get more white in the kits if the vienna doe has a lot of white but not esential as the dad is also a BEW. As for mixing it with butterfly/brocken gene that is not really advisable as you will never know what white markings are from the Vienna gene and what is from the buterfly in the kits. This could cause problems for anyone that buys kits from you that wishes to breed them for either Vienna or Butterfly. This is why he should only be bred to BEW or Vienna.You can however breed him to any doe that has no Vienna in order to produce babies that do have vienna for a Vienna programme. People that buy kits sould be told that the babies carry Vienna. Just get a Vienna extreme doe and you should achieve what you want without mixing in the complicating factor of Butterfly/brocken.

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  18. Hi, I have bred a false dwarf Vienna doe with a true dwarf grey sable point buck (both netherland dwarfs), and they had 5 kits. 2 black with white markings, 2 whites and 1 grey. They are only a day old, what should I expect for Vienna genes and dwarf genes? Should I sell them as breeding rabbits? The doe has great maternal instincts, this is her first litter and she has done everything right, no injuries or lost kits. It's my first time breeding rabbits, so I'm new to the whole genetics thing.
    Thanks!

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  19. Hi! So when you say
    BEW x Non vienna= 100% carriers
    Does this mean they only carrier the gene and won’t be VM or can they also be VM?

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  20. They can also be VM. When a rabbit has two Vienna genes it is a BEW. If it has only one it will be a Veinna Carrier with no markings or A Vienna Marked with varying amounts and patterns of white from one individual to another. If it has a white line down its forhead its called a Vienna split. If it has a LOT of white its called a Vienna Extreme.

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  21. Hi wenda! Following on from your reply!
    If I am wanting to get the Vienna markings and I’m starting with a non Vienna? Would you suggest putting him with a good type BEW or VM?

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  22. So you are starting with a buck that has no Vienna at all? You will get a lot more Vienna babies if you put him to a BEW. If you learn basic colour genetics you will understand why, when you see how it relates to the vienna gene. Would love to explain it but dont have time right now. Perhaps later, If you remind me.

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  23. What are the differences genetically between the Dutch markings and the Vienna gene? I’d like to see these amazing chest sheet for the Dutch markings too! It’s amazing how they are so similar.

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  24. Hi I have a small herd of Hollands an most of them are vm all of my bucks are and half my does. I'm trying to find out how to create heavy vm without having to add another rabbit

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  25. Hi there! I have a little bun called Timmy he's 1 years old. He has lovely blue eyes,black markings,bits of tan,pink and black ears and is snow white everywhere else! With a black marking on his lip! Is he rare?

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  26. Hi I have a black vm doe bred to a heavy vm black buck the baby I got, is a vm booted black what can she produce if bred back to father

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