I feel one thing is missing from the Rex standard concerning General Type. The standard should include the wording of the New Zealand standard under Body Type, which states "the top body line should rise in a gradual curve from the base of the ears to the center of the hips and then fall in a smooth curve downward to the base of the tail."

The reason I would like to have the "top line" wording added to the Rex standard is to aid breeders in breeding, culling, and selection of breeding pieces. The "top line" or curvature of the spine is what lends itself to all commercial breeds of rabbits. It is the high point of the "top line" or profile at the center of the hips that defines depth and allows for fullness at the back of the hips and sides.

It is with a proper "top line" rising as high as the rabbit is wide at the center of the hips that allows Rex rabbits to attain prescribed weights while increasing production capabilities due to an enlarged body cavity. Because Rex rabbits are generally short in body (15 to 17 inches) and have medium to fine bone, it is rather obvious that the more depth on a Rex, the greater the possibility of achieving a body weight set by the ARBA standard while creating a more pleasant-to-look at animal.

I am convinced that if you are to be a consistent winner on the show table, you must apply the "top line" theory to your breeding program.

The breeder who utilizes the "top line" theory in his herd will be rewarded with 35 points alloted to body in the Rex standard. The 10 points for head, ears, eyes, feet, legs, and tail are more naturally accomplished. The 5 points for condition are easily accounted for in the management practices of the showman. All showmen are experienced conditioners of the animal they exhibit.

Coupled with the "top line" theory is another theory I have developed, i.e., that body type or spine curvature does not alter itself from the age of six weeks through adulthood. It becomes rather obvious that the small rabbit is a miniature version of his adult development.

Knowledge is the key to success in any area, and the same applies to the "top line" theory. The breeder's success will be directly proportional to his ability to detect proper spine curvature within his animals or from purchased stock and to breed his best "top line" animals together to lock in genetically the highly desired characteristic. The breeder should select the best "top line" animals from his herd and inbreed them to strengthen his gene pool for out-crossing to another strain that "nicks" well when mated to the superior type animals. Hopeful, the outcross strain has had the "top line" theory applied to it as well. Of course, I am speaking to one area of the overall gene pool when relating to this article and that being "spine curvature."

The "top line" theory really works--just ask the consistent show winners.