4-H

Rabbit

December 8, 2020

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES: The Ohio State Resource Handbook 4-H 228R

ACTIVITY REQUIRED: Complete list of questions prepared annually, complete YQCA, Livestock Record Sheet, and attend appropriate workshops.

DUE DATE: All record sheets and activities are due at check in on Sunday of fair week. YQCA must be completed one week prior to fair.

ENROLLMENT REQUIREMENTS: County enrollment forms must be completed and received by the Extension Office by May 15th. All projects need to be enrolled in Fair Entry by July 1^st.

DOCUMENT AND HEALTH REQUIREMENTS: County enrollment form, properly identified, and must be in good general health.

Taken from the “2021 Animal/Livestock Manual Requirements” on page 14 of the Periscope.

STATE FAIR ENTRY: Any 4-H member may exhibit. Request State Fair entry form from Extension Office. All Auction rabbits will be going to market. They will not be returned to the seller. Be sure to follow appropriate deadlines.

EXHIBIT

Rabbit Educational Poster. See pages 13 and 14 for poster requirements. or
Action Display/Demonstration, or
Exhibit one or more rabbits, or commercial meat pen owned and cared for since May 15. You cannot lease a rabbit.

RABBIT RULES

See General Health Requirements for all species as listed in Newton County Fair Book. All animals must be healthy at the time of entry to the Newton County Fair to be eligible for exhibition. All animals must be identified and meet appropriate State Board of Animal Health requirements.
Rabbits must be in member's possession by May 15. Complete and return pre-entry form to the Extension Office by May 15.
Member must complete grade level questions and the rabbit barn record sheet should be completed in its entirety in order to complete the project.
Meat pens, single fryer, roaster and doe and litter must have possession by July 1. Complete and return pre-entry form to Extension Office by July 1..
Entries must be purebred. Pedigree papers are not required but recommended.
All rabbits must be permanently marked for identification in the left ear with a letter, number, or both. Tattooing must be completed before the day of entry at the fair. No rabbit will be accepted if not tattooed before check-in.
Superintendent will examine all rabbits before they are caged. If any signs of communicable disease or parasites are found, rabbit will not be allowed to remain at the fair.
A member may enter and show a maximum of 12 entries including 1 market animal, 1 doe and litter, any breed, variety, sex, and age. The Superintendent has the right to limit the number of entries per member if cage space is not available.
Only one market animal per 4-Her. Market animals can only show in the market class. All auction rabbits will go to market except ones buyers keep. No exceptions.
Doe & her litter class. A litter being offspring under 6 weeks old. The whole group is 1 entry, caged together.
A meat pen consists of 3 rabbits of the same breed and the same variety, weighing three and one-half pounds (3.5) to five and one-half pounds (5.5) each and not over 69 days of age. Rabbits must be purebred.
Single fryer consists of one rabbit weighing a minimum of three and one-half pounds (3.5 lbs.) and a maximum weight of five and one-half pounds (5.5 lbs.) and not over 10 weeks of age on the day of the show.
Roaster consists of weighing more than five pounds (5.5 lbs.) with a maximum weight of eight pounds (8 lbs.) and under six months of age on the day of the show.
Only 1 purebred rabbit, 120 days or older, may be entered into the fur class per member. Condition, density, texture, and balance of fur will be considered while judging. A rabbit must be entered in a regular class before it can be entered in a fur class. Classes are wool, rex, and commercial. Members may enter in one rabbit at check-in.
Classes

6-Class consists of: Sr. Buck, Sr. Doe (8 months or older) 6-8 Buck, 6-8 Doe (6-8 months old), Jr. Buck, Jr. Doe (under 6 months old). 4-Class consists of: Sr. Buck, Sr. Doe (6 months & over) Jr. Buck, Jr. Doe (under 6 months of age)
Fryer Class

6-Class Breeds: American, Angora Giant, Beveren, Californian, Champagne D'Argent, Checkered Giant, Chinchilla (American), Cinnamon, Creme D'Argent, Flemish Giant, Harlequin, Hotot, Lop (English), Lop (French), New Zealand, Palomino, Satin, Silver Fox.
4-Class Breeds: American Sable, Angora (English), Angora (French), Angora (Satin), Belgian Hare, Britannia Petite, Chinchilla (Standard), Dutch, Dwarf Hotot, English Spot, Florida White, Harlequin (Japanese), Harlequin (Magpie), Havana, Himalayan, Jersey Wooly, Lilac, Lop (American Fuzzy), Lop (Holland), Lop (Mini), Mini Rex, Netherland Dwarf, Polish, Rex, Rhinelander, Silver, Silver Marten, Tan.
All classes will be judged according to ages and weights as established by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (A.R.B.A.); best of breed and best opposite sex accordingly.
All members will be responsible for carrying their rabbit to and from the judging table. If arrangements are not made, rabbit will not be shown and no premiums will be given.
Each 4-H member is expected to furnish his own feed, feeder and water container for each pen of rabbits shown. It is your responsibility to feed, water, and properly care for your rabbits for the duration of the fair.
Due to safety and space, aisles must remain clear. All carriers, boxes, crates, etc. must be removed from the rabbit barn after the show on Monday and should not be brought back until checkout on Saturday.
If unable to exhibit rabbit due to disease, death, injury, or etc., the 4-Her may complete the project by turning in their completed record sheet and answered questions. They must also do a poster, help at check-in or help on show day.
Rabbits must be checked out after 9 p.m. on Saturday night. Members are responsible for taking down their own cages.
Members are strongly encouraged to help with all activities associated with the Rabbit project, including barn cleaning and set-up before the fair, caring for your own animals and monitoring the building during the fair, working at fund-raising events, and cleaning and putting away equipment after the fair.
Showmanship Divisions are:

Junior, Grades 3-5;

Intermediate, Grades 6-8;

Senior, Grades 9-12.
Once you win showmanship you move up to next division.

Showmanship classes will be divided into appropriately sized groups by age. 4-Hers must sign-up with the respective superintendent. When signing up to enter the showmanship contest, the 4-Her must give his/her grade level. The superintendent will determine the break in class size. The winners in each class will show for the Champion Showman Award. (Past winners will re-enter their appropriate age class each year). All participating members must show their own animals.

RABBIT POSTERS

State Fair Exhibit: 1 poster in each of the 3 age levels.

Members may exhibit educational poster in addition to or in place of live animal. Posters will be judged with Rabbit Show in same 3 divisions as project manuals. Enter poster at Rabbit check-in. Contact Extension Office for poster topic suggestions or develop a topic of interest to you. See pages 13 and 14 for poster requirements.