The Breeds
English Lops
Generally known as King of the Fancy; the oldest known breed of Domestic rabbits was known to exist in Cleopatra's Egypt from hieroglyphic records, they were later recorded in Algiers, North Africa and spread to France, Belgium and the Netherlands. The first reference in England is in 1854, they were than adopted as the ideal exhibition animal. The English Lop was so popular and worked with so heavily that it became all but unbeatable. At one show there was a riot when another breed was selected Best in Show. They made their way to the USA in the early 1900's and were one of the first breeds in the Standard and Culture in 1914. The first Lop Specialty club in the USA was started in the early 1940's and has evolved into the Lop Rabbit Club of America, of with which the LRCO is affiliated.
The English Lop buck reaches a Senior weight of over 9 pounds and does over 10 pounds, and their ears must reach at least 21 inches from tip to tip.
French Lops
The French Lop, referred to as Nobility in Rabbits, was created in the early 1900's. It was at first a smaller English Lop with shorter ears and was bred to the French Butterfly (similar to the Flemish Giant but had a Broken Pattern). The French Lop, also in the USA since they early 1900's, were more plentiful as they could be crossbred more easily and worked with more easily.
The French Lop is characterized by a longer, softer fur than the English Lop and is widely used in Europe.
Senior weight for French Lop bucks is over 10 1/2 pounds and over 11 pounds for does.