TORONTO, Nov. 7, 2015 /CNW/ - Among the over 600 rabbits hopping around The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair (RAWF) is the Velveteen Lop, a small lop-eared rabbit with a coat that feels like velvet. There are currently 49 rabbit breeds in North America and, once the genetic code is set, the Velveteen Lop will be the next.
"This rabbit is being bred for show," explains Elizabeth Voigt of Barrie, a rabbit lover and a judge at the RAWF. "It's a cross between a Mini Rex, a small, compact rabbit with fur that feels like velvet, and an English Lop, a larger rabbit with a different shape and lop ears."
Voigt is a long-time supporter of The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair having achieved her judging qualifications here 35 years ago. She is scheduled to judge the youth rabbit show in 2015.
A rabbit breeder herself, Voigt expects to see the Velveteen Lop in future classes. For now, she says, it is a "breed in progress." But, visitors to the Fair don't have to wait until the breed gets official status, they can stroke the velvety bunny in the rabbit exhibit area.
The Royal is supported in part by the City of Toronto and the Province of Ontario.
The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair is the world's largest combined indoor agricultural and equestrian show. This year, the 93rd Royal Agricultural Winter Fair runs November 6-15, 2015 at Exhibition Place, Toronto. For competition schedules, live web casting, results and to purchase tickets, please visit www.royalfair.org.
SOURCE Royal Agricultural Winter Fair
Image with caption: "Velveteen Lop Rabbit (CNW Group/Royal Agricultural Winter Fair)". Image available at: http://photos.newswire.ca/images/download/20151107_C7622_PHOTO_EN_539424.jpg
please contact: Karen Poncelet, Marketing Communications and Community Relations Mgr, The Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, 39 Manitoba Drive, Exhibition Place, Toronto, ON M6K 3C3, Direct: 416-263-3411, Fax: 416-263-3488
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