Learn more about the Satin Angora Rabbit Breed. Discover cool facts, pictures, resources and find information about caring for Satin Angora Rabbits.
This rabbit breed information page is part of our rabbit breeds article series.
Satin Angora Rabbit Resource Links: Free Rabbit Breeders Newsletter | Satin Angora Rabbit Breed Info | Satin Angora Rabbit Information and History | Satin Angora Rabbit Care | Satin Angora Rabbit Resources
Satin Angora Rabbit Breed Info
Recognized colors: Many. Shown in white and colored classes.
Size: Under 9 ½ pounds
National Specialty Club:
nationalangorarabbitbreeders.com
Satin Angora Rabbit Breed Photo Credit:
rightpet.com
Satin Angora Rabbit Information and History
There are five Angora breeds in the United States and even more worldwide. What makes the Satin Angora different from the rest of them?
The most obvious thing is the “satinized” wool. Satin coats are produced by a recessive gene that causes the casing around the pigment in each hair to be translucent – to let some light through – rather than opaque like normal fur. This gives the coat a high luster called“sheen.” The satin gene also causes the diameter of each hair to be smaller than normal wool, so the Satin Angora has the finest wool of any breed.
The French Angora is very similar to the Satin. Both breeds are on the large side of four-class rabbits and have commercial body type. Both breeds usually have “clean” heads and ears, meaning that the head and ears are covered with normal fur instead of wool. In fact, they both disqualify rabbits that have heavy furnishings on the ears, or wool below the ankle or hock. Telling the difference between a French and Satin Angora is a tricky problem for youth breed ID contestants, but here are a few things they remember:
The Satin is slightly smaller, having a maximum weight of 9 ½ pounds compared to the 10 ½ pound limit on French. Also the French breed recognizes the broken color pattern, but the Satin does not. Obviously, Satins have sheen, but this is often hard to see in the wool. The best place to look for a Satin sheen, as well as the best place to look to identify the rabbit’s color, is the head and ears. Here the wool is dense and short. The same amount of pigment is packed into each hair on the head as is spread out over each of the 2-5 inch long wool fibers, so it can be seen much better on the head and ear. The wool is softer than that of the French, so it requires more careful grooming.
Legendary breeder John C. Fehr developed the first Satin Angora in the late 1930’s or early 1940’s, but the wool turned out so fine that he gave the project up, thinking it would have no commercial value. A Mrs. Leopoldina Meyer of Canada developed the Satin Angora that we have today. She obtained a Satin that had longer-than-normal fur, and crossed that to a French Angora. After years of selection, the breed was accepted by the ARBA at last in 1987. Satin Angoras produce less wool than the other breeds, but some feel that the special texture more than makes up for that.
Satin Angora Rabbit Care
Here is a list of resources to help you care for your satin angora rabbits…
- How to Raise Rabbits – information and resources on the subject of raising rabbits
- Breeding Rabbits – learn more about how to breed rabbits for show, meat or profit
- Rabbit Supplies for Sale – find rabbit supplies for sale
- Feeding Rabbits – information and resources on the topic of feeding your rabbits
- Rabbit Health – learn more about rabbit health and care
Satin Angora Rabbit Resources
Here is a listing of satin angora rabbit resources to help you out with your rabbit project…
- Rabbit Breeders Newsletter – be sure to claim your free subscription to our rabbit breeders newsletter in order to start receiving free rabbit information and resources via email
- Satin Angora Rabbits for Sale – use our rabbit classifieds to find satin angora rabbits for sale
- Satin Angora Rabbit Breeders – locate satin angora rabbit breeders using our huge rabbit breeders directory
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