Ups and Downs

It’s both hard to believe as well as a relief to see 2010 coming to an end. Over this past year I have experienced many ups and downs raising Holland Lops. Of course winning Best of Breed at the 2010 Youth HLRSC Nationals was one of the biggest highlights. This past year also served as the first year I was able take a new sense of pride as I watched several of my own homebred Holland Lops do well on the show table. My first all breed Best in Show came as a result of Xcaliber’s Xcaret winning at the May 2010 in Russell, KS.  Later in the year, I was ecstatic to see Xcaliber’s Damon win Best in Show in Duncan, OK with over 600 rabbits shown. 

Unfortunately, this year is ending with a severe loss that I was not expecting.  This past week, I lost one of my herd bucks, CN’s Ben.  I do not know exactly what happened.  He was eating and drinking fine.  He also lived in a temperature controlled environment.  I came home from school to find him dead in his cage. I had only had Ben in my herd for about 2 months.  He had one of the best bodies in a Holland Lop that I have seen (really short, solid as a rock and smooth as can be).  I had high hopes in trying to use him to “stamp” his type on my herd.

At this time, I only have 2 live babies out of him. Although, both babies are cute as can be, they are still too young to make a judgment as to their quality.  Fortunately, I do have a few more does that were bred to Ben due later this month.  I am hopeful that all these does will have healthy and big litters.  I am keeping the faith and staying positive hoping that one of his babies will turn out to be my next herd buck.  Losing Ben is a loss that I don’t think I will be able to get over anytime soon.