British Rabbit Council

British Rabbit Council
AbbreviationBRC
Formation1934
Legal statusNon-Profit Organisation
PurposeRabbits in the UK
Location
Region served
UK
Membership
Rabbit Owners
Main organ
Governing body
Websitethebrc.org

The British Rabbit Council (BRC) is an organisation for rabbit enthusiasts in the United Kingdom. Rabbits are the UK's third most popular pet.[1]

History[edit]

The British Rabbit Council was formed in 1934 when the British Rabbit Society and the National Rabbit Council of Great Britain and her Dominions merged.[2]

Local rabbit clubs in the 1940s were able to affiliate to the BRC.[3] In 1952, the chair of the BRC, Mr T Leaver, said that there had been difficulties in the rabbit industry during the war, partly because of lack of government support before the war.[4] "Despite these many setbacks, Mr. Leaver declared, 'We are an optimistic crowd, and we will carry on.' There were now over five hundred judges, who wanted people to breed exhibition rabbits with beautiful fur."[4] Women were active in supporting the club and providing refreshments at meetings, but the organisation wanted more women active in showing rabbits.[4] In the same year, the society set up examinations for rabbit-keeping.[5] The first National Diplomas in Rabbit Husbandry were awarded in 1953.[6]

In the 1960s, the BRC campaigned against bans on rabbits being kept in council housing, and suggested an upper limit of 12 rabbits per household.[7][8]

Promotion of rabbit as a food source[edit]

In 1935, during the Great Depression, the BRC provided rabbits to unemployed people so that they could breed them.[9] In 1941, during the Second World War, the BRC worked with the Domestic Poultry and Rabbit Keepers' Council and the Ministry of Agriculture to encourage keeping rabbits as a food source.[10] The BRC's legal department was said in 1944 to be ready to challenge any local councils which prohibited the keeping of rabbits, as this was contrary to the war effort.[11]

After the war, the council's promotion of rabbit as a food source continued. In 1954 a representative of the council said that "all rabbit breeders had a duty to the nation and that was a better feeding stuffs conversion into meat", to lessen the country's reliance on imported food.[12] In 1959 the society tried to encourage mass production of rabbit meat; this was opposed by the RSPCA.[13] The BRC set up the Commercial Rabbit Association as part of this project.[14][15] In 1977, the secretary of the BRC "said that two or three does, kept in an ordinary backyard could produce enough meat for one family meal a week".[16]

Membership numbers[edit]

In 1946, the society had around ten thousand members, and another quarter of a million through affiliated clubs.[17] Its slogan was "Grow more rabbit meat for home consumption, and Angora wool for export".[18] In January 1951 it had 70,000 members.[19] In March 1951 it was said to have "more than 6,000 individual members", and 700 affiliated clubs.[20]

Government grants[edit]

In 1951, the society was given a government grant to enable it to support Rabbit Clubs.[21] In 1953, it was given a grant for Domestic Food Production of £1,150.[22]

Myxomatosis[edit]

In the 1950s, the society warned people about the danger of myxomatosis.[23][24][25] It carried out a survey of rabbit owners to try to manage the effects of the disease.[26] The council successfully lobbied for inoculations against myxomatosis to be available for domestic rabbits.[27][28] Members of the society were directly involved with dealing with the effects of the disease among domestic rabbits.[29] They campaigned against the deliberate spreading of the disease.[30]

Rabbit hemorrhagic disease[edit]

In 1992, the BRC temporarily stopped rabbit shows because of rabbit hemorrhagic disease.[31][32] It campaigned for vaccination for rabbits against the disease.[33][34]

Recognised breeds[edit]

There are over 50 breeds recognised by the British Rabbit Council and over 500 varieties. These are divided into four groups – Fancy, Lop, Normal Fur, Rex.[35]

Shows[edit]

To enter most rabbit shows, participants must be Council members and their rabbits must have a metal ring around one hind leg registered in their name.[36][37] In 1993, the Council was said to give out a hundred thousand rings each year.[38] In breed classes, the rabbits are judged to standards defined by the BRC.[39][40] The BRC awards stars, certificates for winning breed classes, diplomas, and identifies champion rabbits.[41][42]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Top Ten Most Popular Pets in the UK". top-ten-10.com. Archived from the original on 2012-02-25. Retrieved 2012-06-19.
  2. ^ "The BRC - The Official website of The British Rabbit Council". thebritishrabbitcouncil.org.
  3. ^ "Fancier". "The home curing of pelts". Ireland's Saturday Night. No. 11 November 1944. Retrieved 10 March 2024. The society has been affiliated to the British Rabbit Council since last April, and, in consequence, its members are entitled to all the benefits offered by this body of affiliated clubs
  4. ^ a b c "Beltinge Society's Progress: Congratulations from President of Rabbit Club". Herne Bay Press. 7 March 1952. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  5. ^ "Rabbit Production". Staffordshire Sentinel. 15 March 1952. Retrieved 10 March 2024. As a means of improving the status of the rabbit industry in the country the British Rabbit Council has decided to award National Rabbit Certificates and Diplomas on reaching the required standards rabbit husbandry examinations. The first examinations are to be held at the Harper Adams Agricultural College on March 22nd and 23rd
  6. ^ "Rabbit Awards". Staffordshire Advertiser. 17 July 1953. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  7. ^ "Hull may act on bunny ban". Hull Daily Mail. 15 June 1965. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  8. ^ "Now a plea for rabbits". Staffordshire Sentinel. 26 October 1965. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  9. ^ "Rabbit Keeping: The Question of the Unemployed". Spaulding Guardian. 26 January 1935. Retrieved 9 March 2024. many persons now out of work are anxious to breed rabbits ... The British Rabbit Council has assisted some of the unemployment centres by gifts of stock, mainly in the form of young breeding does, but there are many more applications for these than can be met
  10. ^ "KEEPING RABBITS FOR FOOD PRODUCTION SCHEME TO HELP WAR EFFORT". The West Briton and Cornwall Advertiser. 9 October 1941. Retrieved 9 March 2024.
  11. ^ "Protest Against Council's "No Rabbits" Decision". Perthshire Advertiser. 19 July 1944. Retrieved 10 March 2024. To me it seems ridiculous that Perth Town Council should try to put a stop to this important supplement to the nation's feeding and clothing supplies whilst the Government is doing everything in its power to encourage people to keep rabbits for food and fur. I would also point out that should any rabbit keeper find himself in difficulties with the Council I shall be quite prepared to refer the case to the Legal Department of the British Rabbit Council for proper action to be taken.
  12. ^ "Rabbit breeders' duty to the nation". Middlesex County Times. 20 February 1954. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  13. ^ Dawes, David (1 November 1959). "RSPCA to fight scheme for mass rabbit pies". Weekly Dispatch. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  14. ^ Hall, Charles W (18 March 1960). "Looking on Agriculture". Louth Standard. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  15. ^ "Plan to develop rabbit industry". The Scotsman. 12 April 1960. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  16. ^ Brown, Margaret (25 April 1977). "Dig for suburban survival". Birmingham Post. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  17. ^ "Food and Fur Value of Home-Reared Rabbit". Coventry Evening Telegraph. 29 January 1946. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  18. ^ "TALK ON ANGORA RABBITS". Lichfield Mercury. 25 July 1947. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  19. ^ "Newton Show Entries Total 2,500". Torbay Express and South Devon Echo. 5 January 1951. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  20. ^ "Breed Rabbits To Eat". Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette. 28 March 1951. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  21. ^ "Poultry and Rabbits: Changes in National Administration". Chatham News. 19 October 1951. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  22. ^ Lyne, A Browning (3 September 1953). "Ways to More Food and Better Nutrition". Newquay Express and Cornwall County Chronicle. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  23. ^ Bedford, Ronald (31 October 1953). "A 'plague' hits British rabbits". The Daily Mirror. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  24. ^ "Danger to Rabbits: Disease Which Could Decimate Their Numbers". Wiltshire Times and Trowbridge Advertiser. 14 November 1953. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  25. ^ Edwards, RH (21 November 1953). "Myxomatosis". Middlesex County Times. Retrieved 10 March 2024.
  26. ^ Carter, WJ (25 December 1953). "Danger of Rabbit Disease". Acton Gazette. Retrieved 11 March 2024. The British Rabbit Council (backed by the Government) are making a survey of rabbit keepers to be in a position to combat the disease in the domestic rabbit
  27. ^ "Outlook for the bunny isn't funny". Daily Herald. 10 April 1954. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  28. ^ Bedford, Ronald (26 July 1954). "Spreading rabbit disease may become a crime". Daily Mirror. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  29. ^ "Watch for disease in pet rabbits". Evening Despatch. 1 September 1954. Retrieved 11 March 2024. Local members of the British Rabbit Council will also have facilities to deal with any outbreak amongst household pets.
  30. ^ ""This horrible torture of rabbits must stop"". Croydon Times. 10 September 1954. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  31. ^ Rundle, Chris (6 May 1992). "Breeders in fear of new killer rabbit disease". Western Daily Press. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  32. ^ "Fingers crossed for sunny show". Accrington Observer and Times. 22 May 1992. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  33. ^ "Rabbit plague alert". Nottingham Evening Post. 3 November 1994. Retrieved 11 March 2024. John Sandford, life president of the BRC, admitted he was extremely worried about the situation. He said: "It is very worrying that the disease appears to be on the increase. Thousands of people have contacted us for advice." The BRC has been pressing the Government to make sure a vaccine is made available in Britain as soon as possible
  34. ^ "Vaccine to protect rabbits from killer". Maidstone Telegraph. 13 January 1995. Retrieved 11 March 2024. In December, 1992, the British Rabbit Council started a petition among its members for the vaccine to prevent VHD to be made available in the UK. Although it was on sale on the Continent British Government red tape about the licence needed for its sale here meant it did not arrive until late last year.
  35. ^ "BRC Breed Standards Book 2021–2025" (PDF). Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  36. ^ Carter, Pam (11 November 1991). "Rabbits - a breed apart". Derby Evening Telegraph. Retrieved 11 March 2024. The rules of the British Rabbit Council are very strict. You cannot exhibit unless you are a member and all your rabbits must have your number on a ring on their legs.
  37. ^ Bonnar, Joyce (4 July 1992). "Pet Talk". Birmingham Mail. Retrieved 11 March 2024. if you intend exhibiting your rabbits in shows run by the British Rabbit Council (BRC) you must be registered with them. The BRC supply ID rings to each member They are unique to that particular person and are slipped on to rabbits' legs when they're very young.
  38. ^ "Look after pets at Christmas". Heartland Evening News. 22 December 1993. Retrieved 11 March 2024.
  39. ^ "Greens for Backyard Beauty". Leicester Evening Mail. 28 June 1950. Retrieved 10 March 2024. Presiding over all this activity is an august body, the British Rabbit Council, which years ago fixed the standards by which a good rabbit is recognised and acclaimed.
  40. ^ Williams, Nicola (7 August 1987). "In the Spotlight: Melton and District Fur Fanciers". Melton Mowbray Times and Vale of Belvoir Gazette. Retrieved 11 March 2024. Following rules laid down in the British Rabbit Council's handbook, judges have particular traits to look for in each breed. Markings, fur patterns and body measurements are all taken into account.
  41. ^ "Best in the Midlands". Melton Mowbray Times and Vale of Belvoir Gazette. 1 May 1964. Retrieved 11 March 2024. Stars are awarded to a rabbit until it is officially recognised as a champion by the British Rabbit Council
  42. ^ Robson, Sheila (10 August 1965). "Top rabbits - and it all began by chance". Retrieved 11 March 2024.

External links[edit]

53°04′41″N 0°48′36″W / 53.078°N 0.810°W / 53.078; -0.810

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