I was just reading Cristina's blog about Sr. Mini lop bucks and had to laugh when she referred to a breeder she knew that had 17 bucks with a Mini lop herd size of 40. That would be me (too funny). I actually have 18 bucks...... I have always kept alot more bucks than most breeders for a number of reasons.
Firstly, I keep the best animals from a litter regardless of the sex. Statistically that would be 50%/50% ratio. Also I keep many of my colors very separate so in truth I have four separate Mini lop herds with a selection of bucks for each herd. I keep my tri-colored animals separate from my chinchillas, separate from my chocolates, separate from all the others.... I also like to have lots of genetic diversity.
For example, I have three Mini lop bucks that are tri or that carry the tri-colored gene. I have four does that I can use with these bucks. I will on occasion use an outcross buck that is A_BBCCD_E or eeENen genetically to increase genetic diversity in the line.
In the chinchilla line I have two bucks that I can breed to three chinchilla does.
I have one chocolate buck that I can breed to four chocolate or chocolate carrier does.
I have ten bucks from many different bloodlines (Mitchell, Posey/Velotta/Kitsemble, Hillside, Rah, Mobey, etc...) that are either steel, chestnut agouti, black or blue that I can breed to many of my Mini lop does that do not carry chinchilla, chocolate or tri.
I also have a tortoise buck that I have used to introduce the ee gene for fawn, frosties or torts.
I also keep a pair of 'test' Mini lops that I can use to test new addition for malocclusion or entropin.
Above all, I buy or keep the best typed animals I can, to maintain the best Mini lop type possible. After all, Mini lops are judged mostly on type with little consideration to color. I love the colors so I have fun with that but without forfeiting type.
So there you go; 18 bucks! I do want to maybe cut back three or four bucks this year. I do have some animals that are over three years old so they will probably be going this season. Hmmmm..... but there will be several new litters this year that will have some nice bucks too.
