How to Judge 4-H Market Rabbits

Members of 4-H can show their market rabbits at competitions held at county and state fairs or at American Rabbit Breeders Association competitions. Judges organize the judging portion of the competition and carefully inspect each rabbit for breed conformity, awarding the best example of each breed with the coveted first place blue ribbon.

Instructions

    • 1

      Organize the judging order of the rabbit breeds. Judge each variety or color within the breed and each class within the variety separately. Classes are separated according to gender and age.

    • 2

      Place all entries of each class in the holding pens on the judging table.

    • 3

      Remove each rabbit from its holding individually for inspection. Place the rabbit on the table for judging.

    • 4

      Grasp the rabbit gently behind the ears with one hand and under the rump with the other. Carefully, lay the rabbit on its back, checking for disqualifications.

    • 5

      Check the ears for the proper tattoo, good form and cleanliness, the eyes for blind spots and clarity and the nose for snuffles and mucus.

    • 6

      Run your hand over the legs, paws and belly, checking for conformity to the breed standard and for imperfections.

    • 7

      Check the genitals for defects.

    • 8

      Turn the rabbit back over onto its feet, checking legs for proper alignment.

    • 9

      Run your hands over the back, looking for proper conformation and checking the fur for texture and density.

    • 10

      Weigh the rabbit. It must fall between the minimum and maximum weight set by the competition for each breed.

    • 11

      Deduct points for imperfections.

    • 12

      Remove rabbits form the judges table, returning the last place rabbit to its cage first and so on, in order, until the first place winner is the last rabbit at the table.