At Icebox Rabbitry we firmly believe that everyone should have at least one goal to strive for with their herd. How can you know where you are going when you don't know where you want to be? Besides, nothing is more rewarding than reaching the goals you set for yourself in your herd.
Goal Setting Tips:
1) Set realistic goals for your herd. If you have no density and want to improve it in one generation without adding in another line that has density...that is an unrealistic goal.
2) Take Baby Steps
Don't expect what you want to happen overnight. If it does, good for you...but don't expect it.
3) Write it Down
Writing down your goals will help to keep you focused on them.
Place them in a spot you view frequently to keep you on track.
4) Don't Give UP!!!
If you experience setbacks try, try again or modify your goals if you need to.
5) Focus on your strengths. Try to maintain them while improving what you feel you need to improve.
Our goals have always been to improve the breed and to provide other breeders with animals with exceptional type for breeding.
Well, we have spent the last 3 years breeding exclusively for type. Our type throughout the herd is now very strong. It is now time to start breeding for the fur that I prefer on a show animal. Granted, we will still be breeding to maintain the type that we have...but our main focus will now be on putting a super thick, fast finishing show coat on our animals. I have all of the peices now...I just need to put them together to create the final package that I want.
I still plan on finishing the newest version of the type book...I am working on it when the muse strikes me and I come up with something that I feel would be of benefit to rabbit breeders. It is coming along much slower than the first book did for me but this book is going to be very different from the first in layout, content and graphic elements. It will be easier to navigate and read and will be available for purchase online. It will be available in .pdf form so get your acrobat readers ready!
My long term goal for the next few years is to become a registrar and then a judge. I feel the biggest way I can help breeders is to get out there and teach while I am judging. This will take a bit tho as I let my ARBA membership lapse in 2001 so I have to start my 5 years again before I can become a registrar. Won't be too long now though.
As always, variety wins at convention would be good...as would a BOB at convention. Maybe someday, but I am not holding my breath just yet. I have a couple more breedings to do first LOL. :)
Update November 2, 2006: My fur is coming along very quickly and I am very happy with the results of the last few breedings I have done. I am still keeping that ever present eye on type but am trying to maintain it rather than produce it. I am still focusing on fur above all at this time and am getting fur popping up in colors that I never expected to see it so quickly in (such as blues) which is a good thing. I hope to hit a few more shows this coming summer to try out my "sea legs" and see how I compete but my main focus will be on Nationals and Convention. Look for me at both this coming year!
I did cut back my herd drastically for winter due to the startup of a chainsaw carving business that took up most of my time this past summer. I did very few breedings due to time constraints which gave me some time to grow up a few of the promising juniors I had this past spring. As a result, I only have about 45 animals in the herd...perfect for a genetic bottleneck for fur!
