What Is the Difference Between Holland & French Lop Rabbits?

One of the rabbit's most familiar features is its long ears. The majority of rabbits have ears that stick straight up and rotate to detect noise, but the ears of lop rabbits hang down by their faces. Due to specific breeding, lop ears lack the muscles and cartilage to stand straight. Five types of lop rabbits are recognized by the American Rabbit Breeders Association. Two of these are the Holland lop and French lop.

  1. Size and Body

    • Holland lops have small, stocky bodies with broad shoulders and a head that looks almost too big for its body. They weigh between 3 and 4 lbs. Whereas Holland lops are one of the smallest lop rabbits, a French lop is one of the largest. They weigh in at over 10 lbs. The French lop also has a head that appears a little too big for its body.

    Ear Size

    • The ears of the French lop and Holland lop hang below the jaw. The standard length for Holland lop ears is no more than an inch below the chin and the ears have a broad bell-like shape to them. French lop ears look like standard rabbit ears, except they flop instead of standing straight.

    Demeanor

    • Overall, larger rabbits tend to be more relaxed than smaller rabbits. The French lop is no exception and, if socialized at an early age, makes a calm pet. Holland lops are not as high-strung as some other small rabbits. They are curious with a very gentle temperament.

    Country of Origin

    • It's no surprise that Holland lops originated in the Netherlands. The intention was to produce a smaller lop rabbit by crossing a French lop and a Netherland dwarf, which has erect ears. The French lop was bred for meat in France by crossing an English lop with a butterfly rabbit (similar to the huge Flemish Giant).