Miniature Lion Lop
The Mini Lion Lop rabbit is a recognised breed by the BRC.[1] It has lopped ears and the mane of the Lionhead and should weigh between 1.5-1.6 kg (3.4-3.8 lbs). The Mini Lion Lop was developed in England in the early 2000s and accepted in 2006. It is very similar to the mini lop, only with the addition of a mane around the head and a 'bib' on the chest. The breed was pioneered by Jane Bramley, who contributed a lot of work into getting the breed recognised.
Colours and standardisation
Mini Lion Lop fanciers are still currently working on getting all the colours standardised, because the Breeds Standards Committee have not allowed all colours that are accepted by other lop breeds to be accepted within the Mini Lion Lops. Fanciers are having to present to the Breeds Standards Committee, colours that are already shown in other lop breeds, to get them standardised within the breed. Three generations (with a minimum of two specimens in each generation) of show-quality Mini Lion Lops are required in the colour the breeder(s) wish to be accepted.
Colours currently accepted are:
- White (red- or blue-eyed)
- Black
- Blue
- Agouti
- Opal
- Iron grey
- Sooty fawn
- Fawn
- Orange
- Light Siamese sable
- Medium Siamese sable
- Dark Siamese sable
- Siamese smoke
- Black fox
- Black otter
- Steel
- Beige
- Chocolate
- Seal-point
- Blue-point
- Butterfly pattern
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Upton's Butter, fawn Mini Lion Lop. BiS LLUK Mansfield 2008
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Barrow Bunnies PJ, medium sable Mini Lion Lop. Best Lop Puddletown
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Upton's Alistair, sooty fawn Mini Lion Lop. Best Lop and Runner Up BiS Mansfield
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Barrow Bunnies Moon, REW Mini Lion Lop. BiS LLUK Southern Championship Show 2012
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Zashion's Beatrice, dark sable Mini Lion Lop
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Wrixel Stud's blue-point Mini Lion Lop. With BoB certificate
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Steel Mini Lion Lop, bred by J. Bramley. BiS Adult Stock Show @ All Lop Show 2009
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Fawn Mini Lion Lop, bred by S. Grainger. BiS Young Stock Show @ All Lop Show 2009
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Zashion's Flower, black butterfly Mini Lion Lop. Bred by Zashion Stud
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Chintastic's Oops a Daisy, sable Mini Lion Lop.
Mane
The maning gene is dominant, therefore, both parents do not need a mane to pass it on to offspring; however, one parent must have a mane. It cannot be "carried" by Mini Lops. There are two genes involved – 'M' and 'm'.
- The mm would be a rabbit with no mane (so this would be a Mini Lop).
- The Mm would be a rabbit with a single mane.
- The MM would be a rabbit with a double mane.
So some possible outcomes may be:
- mm × mm = 100% mm, so all Mini Lop offspring in the litter.
- mm × Mm = 50% mm and 50% Mm, so half Mini Lop and half single-maned Mini Lion Lop offspring in the litter.
- mm × MM = 100% Mm, so all single-maned Mini Lion Lop offspring in the litter.
- Mm × Mm = 50% Mm, 25% mm, and 25% MM
- Mm × MM = 50% Mm and 50% MM
- MM × MM = 100% MM
Double-maned Mini Lion Lop kits are easily recognisable. They are often informally referred to as "gremlins", because of their appearance. Compared to a single maned kit, there is a large difference. "Gremlins" tend to have a V shape on the back, where the fur starts to grow.
Lion Lops UK (LLUK)
LLUK is a national club devoted to the furthering of the breed. It was established in 2007, founded and chaired by Jane Bramley, the fancier who first pioneered the breed. LLUK provides stock shows around the country to benefit the keen exhibitors of the Mini Lion Lop breed.