British Rabbit Council facts for kids
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BRC Logo
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| Abbreviation | BRC |
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| Formation | 1934 |
| Legal status | Non-Profit Organisation |
| Purpose | Rabbits in the UK |
| Location |
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Region served
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UK |
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Membership
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Rabbit Owners |
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Main organ
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Governing body |
The British Rabbit Council (BRC) is a group for people who love rabbits in the United Kingdom. Rabbits are actually the third most popular pet in the UK! The BRC helps rabbit owners and promotes good care for these furry friends.
Contents
History of the BRC
The British Rabbit Council started in 1934. It was formed when two other groups, the British Rabbit Society and the National Rabbit Council, joined together.
Early Years and Growth
In the 1940s, smaller local rabbit clubs could join the BRC. By 1952, the BRC had faced challenges, especially after the war. However, its leaders were hopeful and determined to keep going. They had many judges who wanted to see beautiful exhibition rabbits. The BRC also started exams for rabbit keeping, and the first special diplomas were given out in 1953.
In the 1960s, the BRC worked to make sure people could keep rabbits in their homes. They even suggested a limit of 12 rabbits per household.
Rabbits as a Food Source
During tough times, like the Great Depression in 1935, the BRC helped people by giving them rabbits to breed for food. In 1941, during the Second World War, the BRC worked with the government to encourage people to keep rabbits for food. This helped the country during the war effort.
After the war, the BRC continued to promote rabbits as a food source. In 1959, they tried to encourage large-scale production of rabbit meat. They even created a group called the Commercial Rabbit Association for this purpose.
BRC Membership Numbers
The BRC grew quite a lot over the years. In 1946, it had about 10,000 members directly. It also had many more through clubs that were connected to it. By January 1951, the BRC had 70,000 members. A couple of months later, it had over 6,000 individual members and 700 affiliated clubs.
Dealing with Rabbit Diseases
In the 1950s, the BRC warned rabbit owners about a serious disease called myxomatosis. They surveyed owners to understand how the disease was affecting rabbits. The BRC successfully pushed for vaccinations to be available for pet rabbits. They also worked against people deliberately spreading the disease.
Later, in 1992, the BRC temporarily stopped rabbit shows because of another disease called rabbit hemorrhagic disease. They worked hard to get vaccinations for rabbits against this illness too.
Recognized Rabbit Breeds
The British Rabbit Council officially recognizes over 50 different breeds of rabbits! There are also more than 500 varieties within these breeds. They divide rabbits into four main groups:
- Fancy (rabbits bred for their unique looks)
- Lop (rabbits with floppy ears)
- Normal Fur (rabbits with typical fur)
- Rex (rabbits with very soft, velvety fur)
Rabbit Shows and Competitions
To enter most rabbit shows, people need to be members of the BRC. Their rabbits must also have a special metal ring on one of their back legs, registered in the owner's name. In 1993, the BRC gave out about 100,000 of these rings every year!
At these shows, rabbits are judged based on specific standards set by the BRC. The BRC gives out awards like stars, certificates for winning, and special diplomas. They also identify champion rabbits.
See also
- American Rabbit Breeders Association
- List of rabbit breeds
