{{Short description|Breed of rabbit}} The '''Californian''', also known as the '''California White''', is a breed of domestic rabbit developed for the fur and meat industries by George S. West of Lynwood, California, starting in 1923. West maintained a herd of 300 genetically pure New Zealand Whites (with no Angora genes), which he began crossing with Standard Chinchilla rabbits for their dense coat and Himalayan rabbits (from which the Californian's markings come). This new breed, named after the state of its origin, was first shown in 1928, and a standard was accepted by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) in 1939.<ref>{{cite book|last=Whitman|first=Bob D.|title=Domestic Rabbits & Their Histories|date=October 2004|publisher=Leathers Publishing|location=Leawood KS|isbn=978-1585972753|pages=120–122}}</ref> Today, the Californian rabbit is the second most popular meat-producing breed in the world after the New Zealand rabbit. The fur quality allows this rabbit to also be classified as a fancy breed.<ref>[http://www.rabbitandcavydirectory.com/Breed_Gallery/Californian.htm#description The Californian rabbit]</ref>
<gallery class="left" mode="packed" heights="100px" widths="100px"> File:Króliki kalifornijskie 666.jpg|{{center|Californian rabbits<br>"Standard" color variety<br><small>(recognized by ARBA)</small>}} File:Króliki kalifornijskie californian rabbits.jpg|{{center|Californian rabbit kits<br>"blue" color variety<br><small>(recognized by the BRC)</small>}}|alt=Californian rabbit kits"Blue" color variety(recognized by the BRC) File:Winninghimalayan.JPG|{{center|For comparison:<br>Himalayan rabbit<br><small>(Note the "cylindrical" body type)</small>}}|alt=FOR COMPARISONHimalayan rabbit(Note the "cylindrical" body type) </gallery>
ARBA recognizes only the original "standard" color variety of white with dark points, while the British Rabbit Council (BRC) recognizes four color varieties: normal, chocolate, blue, or lilac points. The BRC standard calls for a desired weight of {{convert|9.5|lb|kg}} with a minimum of {{convert|7.5|lb|kg}}, while ARBA accepts a maximum weight of {{convert|10.5|lb|kg}}.<ref>{{cite web|title=ARBA Recognized Breeds|url=https://arba.net/breeds.htm|website=American Rabbit Breeders Association|accessdate=March 21, 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Breed Standards 2021-2025|url=https://thebritishrabbitcouncil.org/Breed%20Standards%20Book%202021.pdf|website=British Rabbit Council|accessdate=November 21, 2022|archive-date=March 2, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230302180606/https://thebritishrabbitcouncil.org/Breed%20Standards%20Book%202021.pdf|url-status=dead}}</ref>
Californians are an excellent meat rabbit breed, with a good meat-to-bone ratio.<ref> [https://rurallivingtoday.com/livestock/californian-rabbit/ Rural Living Today]</ref> They produce large litters of 8-12 kits, which have a fast growth rate to fryer size (4-5lbs) in 8-12 weeks. They have dense, plush coats.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://petkeen.com/californian-rabbit-breed/|last=Cosgrove|first=Nicole|title=Californian Rabbit Breed Info: Pictures, Traits, & Facts|website=Petkeen|date=November 10, 2022|accessdate=November 21, 2022}}</ref>
==See also==
==References== {{Reflist}}
==Further reading== *{{cite book|last=Dean|first=Warren M.|title=Small Animals Care & Management|publisher=Cengage|orig-year=1995|year=2016|edition=4th|page=285|isbn=978-1-285-42552-8}}
==External links== *[https://rabbitbreeders.us/californian-rabbits/ Californian Rabbit Breed History] *[https://rabbitbreeders.us/rabbit-breeds/ Breeds of Rabbits]
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Category:Meat industry Category:Rabbits as pets Category:Rabbit breeds Category:Rabbit breeds originating in the United States