How-To Center

Rabbit Genetics

How Rabbit Genetics & Pair Analysis Works

HerdHarbor uses known and possible genetics from the selected buck and doe to estimate possible offspring colors and inheritance. The calculation engine uses deterministic genetic rules—not AI guessing. The quality of the result depends on the phenotype, genotype, pedigree, carrier information, and offspring history recorded for the rabbits.

Open Pair Analysis

1. Open Breeding / Breeding Intelligence. Your ordinary breeding records stay simple; genetics is optional.
2. Choose the Buck. The Buck list contains eligible current rabbits stored as Male.
3. Choose the Doe. The Doe list contains eligible current rabbits stored as Female.
4. Select View Genetics Prediction. HerdHarbor calculates possible offspring colors, conditional colors, genetics evidence, and excluded families.
5. Review uncertainty before making a breeding decision. A range means unresolved genetics still matter.

Genotype basics

Each locus contains two alleles—one inherited from each parent. The main supported rabbit color and pattern loci are:

What “_” means

An underscore means the second allele is unresolved. It does not mean the rabbit has no allele there, and it does not tell HerdHarbor to stop calculating. Alpha v1.4.5 uses the visible phenotype, known genetics, pedigree, offspring history, and dominance rules to constrain what that unresolved allele can genetically be.

Proven vs inferred genetics

• Known / Direct: breeder-entered direct genotype information or a recorded direct test result.
• Proven by Phenotype: the visible color itself requires the genotype, such as dd for a visibly dilute rabbit or aa for a confirmed self phenotype.
• Proven by Offspring: recorded parentage and an informative offspring establish that this parent had to supply the allele.
• Strongly Inferred: the evidence is strong but does not uniquely prove inheritance.
• Possible: the allele is genetically possible based on family history or incomplete information.
• Unknown: the current records do not meaningfully establish the allele.

How percentage ranges work

A result such as Chocolate Magpie — 0%–12.5% means the outcome is impossible under some valid unresolved parental genotypes and can reach 12.5% under others. It does not mean HerdHarbor predicts exactly 6.25%. Exact percentages are shown only when the relevant genetics are sufficiently resolved.

Harlequin, Magpie & Broken

Harlequin uses the Japanese allele ej. When a rabbit visibly expresses Harlequin, HerdHarbor constrains unresolved E-locus possibilities so a dominant extension allele that would mask Japanese expression is not silently inserted.

Magpie combines Japanese/Harlequin pattern genetics with chinchilla/shaded C-series genetics. For a recorded cchd-based Magpie, the unresolved C-series allele is constrained to combinations compatible with that visible phenotype rather than automatically allowing dominant C.

Broken is handled through En/en separately from base coat color. A Broken outcome can therefore be combined with the calculated base color instead of replacing the color-genetics calculation.

Vienna, VM, VC & BEW

VV = Vienna clean at the genotype level. Vv = one Vienna allele and is the genotype behind both recorded Vienna Marked (VM) and Vienna Carrier (VC) status. vv = Blue-Eyed White (BEW) genotype.

HerdHarbor can predict how often Vv or vv genotypes occur in a cross, but Vv does not reliably predict how much visible Vienna marking a rabbit will show. The app therefore does not invent a percentage for VM versus visually unmarked VC expression.

Why pedigree information matters

Recessive alleles can pass through rabbits that do not visibly express them. A known carrier parent is stronger evidence than the same allele appearing only in a grandparent or great-grandparent. HerdHarbor reduces confidence through each unproven transmission rather than declaring a distant ancestor's allele automatically present in the selected rabbit.

Why offspring information matters

Some offspring can reveal hidden parental genetics. HerdHarbor checks both recorded parents and the inheritance pathway before declaring an allele proven. Additional litters are reviewed again as they are recorded, so informative breeding history can narrow future predictions.

Pedigrees

How to Create a Pedigree

HerdHarbor builds pedigrees from sire and dam relationships stored on animal records. Connecting the parents allows the app to follow the family line into earlier generations when those records are available.

1. Open Animals. Find the animal whose pedigree you want to build.
2. Open the pedigree information. Review the sire and dam fields.
3. Connect the sire and dam. Select the correct parent records when they already exist.
4. Add missing ancestry. Enter available identifying information for missing ancestors.
5. Review generations. Confirm names, sex, identification, color, breeder information, dates, and parent relationships.
6. Choose pedigree appearance. Use the available photo mode without sacrificing readability.
7. Print or export after review. Verify the family structure before sharing.

Breeding & Litters

How to Enter a New Litter

Use a birth or litter record to keep the parents, birth date, outcomes, and offspring connected.

1. Open Breeding, Births & Litters. Add a new birth or litter.
2. Select the dam. Choose the Female that gave birth.
3. Confirm the sire. Select the Male sire when known.
4. Enter the birth date and totals. Record born alive, stillborn, fostered, or lost young.
5. Add useful notes. Record delivery and dam-performance observations.
6. Create individual offspring records. Add names, tags, sex, color, and other known details when needed.

Health & Medical

How to Add Medical Data

Keep observations, treatments, medication details, vaccinations, follow-up dates, and veterinary information attached to the animal record.

1. Open Health. Choose the animal whose health record you want to update.
2. Add a health record. Select the appropriate record type.
3. Enter the date and details. Record objective observations and relevant treatment information.
4. Record medication carefully. Include the product, amount, route, frequency, and instructions exactly as appropriate to your record.
5. Add follow-up information. Enter a follow-up date or task when needed.
6. Save and review. Confirm the record is attached to the correct animal.