The Jersey Wooly, also known as the Dwarf Angora in Europe, is a breed of Domestic rabbit weighing about 3 pounds with a bold head and easy-care wool fur on their body. They are noted for their high intelligence, docile nature, and gentle disposition.
Origins
Bonnie Seeley of Highbridge, New Jersey introduced the Jersey Wooly at the 1984 American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) Convention in Orlando, Florida. It was recognized by the ARBA in 1988. Today, the Jersey Wooly is a popular pet and is also one of the most widely-exhibited rabbits at local and national shows in the United States.
The Jersey wooly was developed by crossing the Netherland dwarf and the French Angora. The result of this cross was an ideal small pet rabbit with a beautiful very easy-to-care-for coat. This is now a popular pet breed and comes in a variety of colors.
Appearance
The Jersey wooly typically weighs less than 3.5 pounds. The ears are small and erect, standing about 2 to 3 inches in height. The head is bold and the body wooly.
Despite its small size, this rabbit has lots of hair. The abundance of guard hairs lies over a crimped undercoat creating a dense hair coat. The side trimmings on the head have longer hair than the body. This long hair runs along the jawline. From the ears forward, the wool is short.
The wool of the Jersey Wooly is often referred to as “easy care” due to the high ratio of guardhairs. But this should not lead prospective owners to believe the coat requires “no care.” Jersey Woolies require frequent grooming to prevent matting and dangerous wool block - caused by ingesting hair as the rabbit grooms itself.
Lifespan
The average life span of a breeding Jersey wooly rabbit is 5 to 6 years. By spaying or neutering early in life, you can increase their life expectancy to around 10 years.
Copyright: Wikipedia information about Jersey Wooly – This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License. It uses material from the Wikipedia article "Jersey Wooly". More from Wikipedia