American rabbit

The breed club identifies Lewis H. Salisbury of Pasadena, California, as the breeder who first exhibited the Slate Blue rabbit in Los Angeles in 1917 and presented it for acceptance later that year. The first standard was published in March 1918. White entered the standard in 1925. The club also stresses that the exact crosses behind both varieties remain uncertain, so confident ancestry formulas found in secondary summaries should not be repeated.

ARBA recognizes only Blue and White and sets a 12 lb (5.44 kg) maximum. The club standard describes a long, deep and wide semi-arch body with a smooth moderate rise, highest just ahead of the stifle, plus a normal flyback coat. Blue should be even and rich; White is a separate accepted variety. Color, size or this photograph cannot by itself verify an American pedigree.

ARBA and the breed club describe a calm or docile reputation, but registries do not predict every rabbit. Evaluate pain, fear, prior handling and response to people and other rabbits. Use reward-based habituation and provide enough space to run, stand upright, stretch, hide, rest and interact with a compatible companion.

Offer unlimited grass hay and fresh water, appropriate leafy greens and measured complete pellets. Check body condition by touch rather than trying to reach the maximum show weight. Provide dry, non-slip resting surfaces and room for normal movement; inspect the feet, hocks, nails, coat and underside. Adjust housing and feeding to the individual, life stage and veterinary advice.

Reliable sources do not establish a unique American-rabbit disease list. Monitor the same important warning signs as in other domestic rabbits: reduced appetite or faeces, weight or condition change, dental pain, discharge, breathing difficulty, skin damage, urine scald and sore feet. Appetite loss, abdominal swelling, severe pain or lethargy needs prompt assessment by a rabbit-experienced veterinarian.

Confirm pedigree and use the current governing standard; do not identify breeding stock by color alone. Record mature weight and condition, semi-arch structure, movement, coat and color, teeth, feet, recurring illness, behaviour, matings, kindlings, kit survival and doe recovery. Compare performance within the same management system. No sound source supports one guaranteed litter size, 14-week slaughter age or 58% meat yield for every American.

• Keep the 1917 debut distinct from the March 1918 published standard.
• Treat 5.44 kg as a maximum show value, not a feeding target.
• Do not publish fixed litter, slaughter-age or carcass-yield promises.