Tan
The Tan Rabbit is one of the breeds recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). They are characterized by their rich tan color along the entire underside.
They first known to have appeared in 1887 in Brailsford, Britain. Just like most modern rabbits, the Tan rabbit is also a product of selective cross breeding. They were known to have originated from the cross breeding of dutch rabbits with common hutch rabbits and European Wild rabbits. The first Tan rabbits was showed during the year 1888 having a black and tan color, a stocky build, and is very shy. |
Mr. Purnell in Cheltenham attempted to darken the yellow belly coloration by breeding them to Belgian Hares and called the new breed the “Cheltenham Strain”. The Belgian Hare blood produced a rabbit that was less stocky, with a more racy appearance. In 1980, rabbit fanciers began to breed both strains of the Black and Tan with Gray and Brown Silver rabbits to improve the breed. Over the years, the breeders began breed the two strains together which produced the body style of the Tan Rabbit Breed of today..
The early Tans arrived in America prior to 1908 and were one of the first breeds accepted by the ARBA, known at that time as the National Pet Stock Association. All varieties were combined into one breed known as the Tan. |
. The current accepted colors of the Tan rabbit in America are, Black, Blue, Chocolate or Lilac upper body with a rich tan color along the entire underside from the chin to the under parts of the tail, tan triangle, collar, nostrils, eye circles, pea spots, and ear lacing.
Senior Bucks should weigh between 4 to 5 1/2 pounds and Senior Does between 4 to 6 pounds. The Junior Buck and Doe have a minimum weight requirement of 2 pounds. |