What is crossbreeding and how should it be used?
Crossbreeding (outcrossing or outbreeding) is the opposite of inbreeding, i.e.: increasing the number of heterozygous pairs. This is commonly known as widening the gene pool. Outbreeding is the mating of animals, which are less related than the average relationship of the population. Thus outbreeding is practiced most commonly between families. In crossbreeding, heterosis or hybrid vigor is often a common calculation in determining whether or not to cross two breeds. Heterosis is the degree to which an offspring deviates from its parent’s breeds Of the two breeding methods, outcrossing involves the least amount of risk. By mating rabbits that are unrelated, the chance of intensifying undesirable traits is minimized. Unfortunately, due to the heterozygous, or dissimilar, genetic nature of a group of unrelated rabbits, the chance of intensifying desirable traits is likewise diminished. The breeder’s craft comes into play here; in honestly and accurately assessing the strengths and weakne
