The Blanc de Hotot rabbit is listed as threatened on American Livestock Breeds Conservancy.  The Blanc de Hotot is known for its frosty white fur and black-rimmed eyes.    The beautiful Blanc de Hotot rabbit is unique being that the breed was developed entirely by women in the Hoto-en-Auge region of France. Madame Eugenie Bernhard, chatelaine du Calvados aimed to develop a new breed of rabbit that could be prized for its meat and fur.  In the year 1902 she began crossing breeds and found that the Geant Papillon Francais when crossed with other lightly marked rabbits began to produce the characteristics she was looking for.  It took over 10 years and 500 matings to produce what we know today as the Blanc de Hotot.  The French rabbit governing body officially recognized the Blanc de Hotot as a breed on October, 13th 1922.  The Blanc de Hotot was first brought to America between 1921 and 1922 but never took off as a breed.  The Blanc de Hotot nearly went extinct during World War II but picked up again in 1978 when Bob Whitman from Texas imported 8 Blanc de Hotots .  The American Rabbit Breeders Association standards accepted the breed in 1979.  

The American rabbit is listed on the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy as critically endangered.  It is one of the oldest breeds developed in the United States and is a cross of many different breeds.   The American rabbit was officially listed as a breed in March of 1918.  As a result of the First World War the original name of German Blue Vienna was changed to the American Blue.  Lewis H. Salisbury of Pasadena, California is credited as having the best genetics and kept the list of breeds used to create the end result a secret.   By the 1920’s furriers were paying high prices for their deep colored pelts.  The American rabbit is one of the rarest breeds in all of America.

Click on the links at the left to visit our Heritage Rabbit Farmers.