1. HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN BREEDING?
I have been breeding rabbits for more than 50 years. Initially I changed between various meat breeds until I found that the best one for me would be the New Zealand White. I have been breeding them for 40 years and I am satisfied with them. I keep Hermelines as well for my grandchildren for petting. I am a registered member of the club of meat breed rabbits and I am the president of ZO ČSCH Ivančice. Each year we hold a show of small animals in our breeding site and in September regional shows where breeders from the wider surroundings exhibit.
2. WHAT BREED DID YOU START WITH AND WHAT BREED DO YOU HAVE NOW?
I tried various breeds. For instance Kastorexe, Viennese whites and Rexe Whites. I liked them for their unusual fur structure and in previous times also for the sales price of their skin. A breeder could earn well because of it. As I said before I now only breed New Zealand whites with which I am very satisfied. I don't mean to boast but I got a lot of prizes and titles. which I value, and it is a sign that I breed rabbits to a high level.
3. WHAT IS SPECIFIC FOR A GIVEN BREED?. IS IT DIFFICULT TO BREED?
Because they are a meat breed it is necessary to give them more energy in their feed so that they have the required weight of 4-5 kg at shows and achieve full points in the first place on the evaluation sheet. Breeding is not demanding as long as there is no illness which the breeder can not influence.
4. WHAT AWARDS HAVE YOU RECEIVED? AND WHICH ONE DO YOU VALUE THE MOST?
I value all the honorary prizes and titles. Of course, most of all I value those which are from European and club shows where there is a large representation of New Zealand whites and a lot of competition. In 2014 at the Central European show in Holice I won the tile of "Central European Master of Adults". Three times in a row I won club shows and the title "Club Master". The Breeders of meat breeds Club gave me a commemorative diploma for my long years of sucessful activity after 35 years of activity in this group. I won the National show of young rabbits twice. I also got an honorary title at a European show.
5. WHAT BREED WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO NEW BREEDERS?
It depends on how much one wants to invest into breeding and whether he just wants to exhibit or have other advanatges from it. I would definitely recommend one of the meat breeds which don´t have complicated colouring, for instance Burgundy, Great Kuni or the New Zealand White or Red.
6. ARE YOU SATISFIED WITH THE FEED FROM ENERGYS HOBBY? HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN FEEDING WITH THEM?
I am satisfied with the feed for rabbits. I have been buying granules for more than 12 years when Slavkovské krmné směsi still operated, which was then purchased by De Heus and began to sell feed for small breeders under the Energys Hobby brand. I regularly use the Rabbit CLassic product which provides my rabbits with an adequate amount of energy.
The other breeders in our organisation also feed with these granules and they are very satisfied with them. To give one example for all. A colleague who breeds Perls fed his animals before moulting with Champion rabbit feed and he was so pleased that he decided to feed it all year round. His rabbits have beautiful thick fur from it which is very important for this breed.
7. WHAT DAILY RATION DO YOU GIVE TO RABBITS? DO YOU MIX THE GRANULES WITH OTHER CEREALS AND IF SO IN WHAT RATIO?
I serve about 100 g daily divide into two batches, morning and evening. Yes, I have an open mix already mixed with granules, sunflower seeds and bare oats. I have a 2 l container for preparing these mixes and I mix 14 measures of granules, 1 measure of sunflower seeds and one measure of oats.
8.
Its not quite a story but I wanted to make my wife and daughter happy and before the revolution I secretly gathered the pelts of the White Rexe so that I could then sew them winter coats. Unfortunately my wife got ahead of me and bought one. I was disappointed so I had a hat made for them at least, which the neighbours were jealous of. At that time the were expensive and goods in short supply.
