1194 I MMMtoa Fbhhlm ftaL.aJa, BMancaster Farming, Saturday, July 31, 1993 ‘Hare’ Raising Experts Teach Rabbit Care LOU ANN GOOD Lancaster Farming Staff MOUNT JOY (Lancaster Co.) Raising rabbits is serious busi ness. At least it is for Dwight and Sarah Algoe, and daughters Emily and Erin. Rabbit hutches in the Algoes backyard house 200 rabbits, TTiese rabbits live with the luxury of piped in music 24 hours a day. The music, according to Sarah, calms the rabbits and exposes them to noise so that the rabbits partici pating in shows are accustomed to noise and remain calm. Each family member raises a different breed of rabbits. Dwight raises Californians, Sarah, Palomi nos; 14-year-old Emily, Black Tans; and 16-year-old Erin, New Zealand Whites. To an onlooker, most of the rab bits in each breed look alike, but Erin claims that if all 70 rabbits were released, and gathered together again, she could name each one. Dwight and Sarah Algoe, 4-H leaders of the Mt. Joy Rabbit Club, tell a prospective 1..1.. 4AM Relaxing in the shade with their rabbits are Erin Algoe, 16; Sarah Zurln, 12; Sarah Algoe, leader; and Emily Algoe, 14. “Each one has its own personali ty and little quirks.” said Erin, who spends hours tending the rabbits. Lest anyone think that rabbits are “brainless”, Erin is quick to point out that rabbits have the men tality of cats and can be litter trained. The Algoes, who live in Mount Joy, attend about 20 rabbit shows each year. But it isn’t just their rab bits that they are interested in promoting but also the rabbits belonging to the 27 members of the 4-H club that they lead. For anyone familiar to 4-H rab bit clubs, the names Dwight and Sarah Algoe are heard again and again. Their names are spoken almost reverently by 4-H members and their parents. According to members, this esteem is earned by the Algoes because their efforts go beyond the call of duty. The Algoes are dedicated to giving individual attention to each mem ber. They pay special attention to details, and send a gift subscription member about the care rabbits need. of the Rabbit Breeders Club maga* zine to each member. They print a monthly newsletter with news and details of upcoming shows. Gary and Judy Zurin, whose 12-year-old daughter Sarah is in ffle club, said, “The Algoes are sup er leaders. They always contact the members individually and follow up with visits.” The Algoes said, “Parents’ parti cipation in the club keeps kids’ interest high. Some parents even become more interested than their child does in rabbit raising.” The Algoes started in the rabbit raising business about 11 years ago, when they purchased a New Zealand White for their daughter. Later, Dwight’s brother, who lives in California, gave them a Califor nian pair. When the offspring took a champion reserve ribbon at the E town Fair, the Algoes caught the excitement of competition. They attended the York Fair, where they met Bob Gebhart, who has showed rabbits for many years. The Algoes purchased a trio of rabbits from Gebhart, and since then, have gra dually improved their breeding and show stock. When the Algoes first began their rabbit raising, they were not affiliated with 4-H, but someone soon suggested the couple would make good 4-H leaders for the club. The Algoes accepted the vol unteer responsibility and watched as their club grew from six to 27 members within three years. In the open show, the Algoes’ rabbits sometimes compete with the rabbits of club members. This adds extra excitement for the mem bers who count it a special accom plishment if they can win over their leaders. One time, a club member had a rabbit with a mean temperament so the Algoes gave the member one of their rabbits. That rabbit has con sistently been beating the Algoes’ rabbits ever since. Shows are becoming more com petitive as more and more children raise them because they do not have the facilities to raise larger animals. Some shows have as many as 2SO rabbits competing. The Rabbit Association recognizes 45 different breeds. Ml Joy 4-H Club members raise about 12 diffe rent breeds. During judging most breeds must sit and are judged by the rounded hump on their backs, but Tans run loose so that the markings on their body can be judged. Rabbits are not always the docile animals they appear to be. During judging, rabbits often fight and bite. wmesfcad tH/offis Pedigree rabbits cost from $23 to $2OO, but the Algoes sell their rabbits for considerably less to 4-H’ers. Rabbits across the county are suffering from a hot-weather related illnesses. Veterinarians say there is no cure for snuffles caused by changes in temperatures or from exposure to other rabbits with the illness. In recent weeks, the Algoes’ stock has dwindled to 70 head because hot weather places severe stress on rabbits. "Rabbits can take cold weather much easier than hot,” Sarah said. ‘They survived the blizzard fine in outdoor hutches, but the hot weath er .has taken its toll.” Bottles of frozen water are placed in the pens for the rabbits that lay next to it to cool off and the rabbits’ ears are misted with a water spray. Wet cloths are also placed in the pen for rabbits to lay on. Among the numerous rabbit hutches, the Algoes have a retire ment cottage for the rabbits that become too old for show. Living in pampered style are one daughter’s first Holland Lap, and the Califor nian pair. Although the Algoes do butcher rabbits for eating, Sarah said that she never lets the children know the name of the rabbit that is being consumed and that she has found novel ways to serve rabbit meat in soup and casseroles in addition to grilling, frying, roasting, and cook ing. Sarah said that rabbit can be (Turn to Page B 3)
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