Northeast District Livestock Show

The Northeast District Livestock Show will be held in Delhi, Louisiana, from February 1 - 4, 2012. Following is the schedule of events (f/b = followed by):

Wednesday, February 1, 2012
10 a.m. -- Junior livestock may arrive (NO livestock may enter the barn before 10 a.m.)

Thursday, February 2, 2012
10 a.m. -- ALL livestock must be in barn; Weigh & mouth sheep followed by (f/b) goats; Weigh & mouth steers f/b commercial heifers

12 p.m. (Noon) -- Weigh hogs

12:30 p.m. -- English & Continental Beef Breeding; Sheep Show f/b Showmanship f/b Pee Wee f/b Open Sheep Show; Sheep Premier Exhibitor Contest; Goat Show f/b Showmanship f/b Pee Wee f/b Open Goat Show; Goat Premier Exhibitor Contest

8 a.m.-3 p.m. -- Open Show entries (3 p.m. deadline, show office)

5 p.m. -- Poultry must be in barn

Friday, February 3, 2012
8 a.m. -- Swine Show f/b Showmanship f/b Pee Wee f/b Open Swine Show; Swine Premier Exhibitor Contest; Brahman Influence Beef Breeding f/b Commercial Heifer Show f/b Supreme Heifer/Bull Selection; Beef Showmanship f/b Pee Wee; Beef Premier Exhibitor contest

10:30 a.m. -- Grand Parade

11 a.m. -- Poultry Showmanship f/b Pee Wee f/b Poultry Show

12 p.m. (Noon) -- Check in Rabbits

1 p.m. -- Jr. Steer show f/b Open Steer Show f/b Open Beef Show; Rabbit entries due

2 p.m. -- Rabbit show f/b Showmanship; Dairy Show f/b Showmanship f/b Pee Wee f/b Open Dairy Show; Dairy Premier Exhibitor contest

Saturday, February 4, 2012 Delhi Civic Center
11:30 a.m. -- Awards Presentation; Winners' Sponsored Meal

* No livestock may enter barn before 10 a.m. Wednesday
* All winning exhibitors must attend the Awards Banquet on Saturday to receive their award
* No tack shall be moved or loaded during the awards program

How to Raise Bunny Rabbits

By Destiny Bearden, LRBA Youth Ambassador of the Year 2011

1. Give your rabbits fresh rabbit food and water every day. Rabbits need about one ounce of rabbit food per pound of body weight per day. They can also have about a tablespoon of treats a day. They can have any crunchy veggie we eat like broccoli, cauliflower, celery or carrots. They can also have peels off things like cucumber, apple, cantaloupe and watermelon. They love berries. They can eat dry oatmeal, cheerios, seeds like sunflower and nuts in small treat amounts. They can eat grass and hay. They can also have anything in the wild that bunnies eat like honeysuckle vines and such in REASONABLE amounts.



2. Do NOT give rabbits lettuce. It can give them diarrhea; then they dehydrate and die.



3. Provide a hard wood stick like oak or hickory. They chew on it and it keeps their front teeth from growing too long and gives them something to do. Provide other suitable toys to keep them from being bored. Do NOT give your rabbits treated wood at all!



4. Rabbits can NEVER be left in the sun, even on a not so warm day. They will get too hot and DIE!



5. Rabbits need shelter from rain. A wet rabbit will likely turn into a sick rabbit. Rabbits need shelter from winter wind/drafts also.



6. Rabbits do NOT need a bath. They bathe themselves like a cat.



7. Rabbits cannot take their fur coats off. In warm and hot weather, provide good ventilation and fans or air conditioning. Remember that tin roofs get hot making the bunnies underneath HOT!



8. Handle your rabbits often - it helps them bond with you. Groom them often. It helps keep them healthy.



9. Your rabbits need to be wormed on occasion. We worm ours once every 6 months. You might see crusty stuff in their ears which is a sign of ear and body mites. This also needs to be treated - an under the skin injection works best as it takes care of the whole body not just the ears and also gets ride of intestinal worms at the same time.



10. Get a good rabbit book. Try checking one out at your local library. Find out about ALL breeds of rabbits before you get one. Get all your rabbit equipment together BEFORE you get your rabbits. Think about the size of the rabbit, the space you have, the time you have to spend with them (some are very hairy and require MUCH extra grooming - some are near extinct and need preserving - some are for pets - some are for meat). Look up reliable sites for more information. Louisiana Rabbit Breeders Association is a good source: http://www.louisianarba.net/. Also, the American Rabbit Breeders Association: http://www.arba.com./



11. Don't pick up your rabbits by the skin on the back of their neck even though it does not seem to cause them pain. It does cause their skin to stretch out, separating their skin from their muscles, which is not healthy.



12. Do NOT keep around birds. If bunnies come in contact with ANY type of bird droppings you will have a dead bunny. This includes loose birds that may roost on top of your bunny cage or previously used cages that house birds or had birds in neighboring holes.

List of Rabbit Breeders

5 K Ranch
Curtis, Ginny, Annabelle, Samuel, & Jesse
Eros, La
a5k-ranch@netzero.com
(318) 307-6868
Dutch, Florida Whites, Havanas and Thriantas

AA Rabbitry
Ariana, Bradley, Dakota, Gabriel and Morgan
Krotz Springs, Louisiana
aarabbitry@gmail.com
French Lops, Dutch and Mini Rex


ANH Rabbitry
Ashlee Hawkes
Leesville, Louisiana
anhawkes@gmail.com
Mini Rex, Standard Rex, Harlequins


AnimalLane Rabbit Habbit
Dale Latham
Livingston, Louisiana
Animallane1@charter.net
(225) 324-6149
Checkered Giant, English Lop, Californian, Mini Rex, Holland Lops, Jersey Wooly, Champagne d'Argent, Harlequin, Lilac and New Zealand Whites


Babin's Rabbitry
Seth Babin
Raceland, Louisiana
sethbabin03@yahoo.com
Mini Rex


Samuel Babineaux
Rayne, Louisiana
pappawolf85@aol.com
Polish, American Chincilla, American Blues


Backyard Bunnies Rabbitry
Lisa, Ricky & Brittany Deshotel
Ville Platte, Louisiana
backyardbunniesrabbitry@yahoo.com
(337) 363-4032
Mini Rex & Holland Lops


Bayouland Lapin Farm
Ovey Viator, Jr.
New Iberia, Louisiana
(337) 365-2559
Polish and Thriantas


Bearden Bunny Barn
Mary Beth and Destiny Bearden
Farmerville, Louisiana
aakede@hughes.net
(318) 376-9797
Polish and Mini Rex


Black Lake Rabbitry
Jimmy & Dawn Lormand
Adam & Sage Gillis
Maurepas, Louisiana
blacklakerabbits@gmail.com
Checkered Giants, Californian, Harlequin and Himalayan


Blue Moon Bunnies
Michael, Shana, Aiden & Brennen Nielsen
Thibodaux, Louisiana
bluemoonbunniez@gmail.com
Mini Rex and Dutch


Bronwyn's Bunnies
Rebecca Blanks
Alabama
rebecca@bronwynsbunnies.com
(256) 479-9071
Mini Rex, Holland Lops, Lionheads, Harlequins, Silver Martens, Netherland Dwarfs and Creme D'Argents


Brooms Bunnie Barn
James and Patricia Broom
Duson, Louisiana
cruiser70529@yahoo.com
(337) 298-6646
Flemish Giants, New Zealands, Hollands, Netherland, Mini Rex


C&C Bunnies
Camille Poynter
Sulphur, Louisiana
docjpbride@bellsouth.com
Mini Rex


Brian, Angela, Sara & Alexis Cavalier
Livingston, Louisiana
Californian, New Zealand Whites, Holland Lops


Cormier's Cajun Rabbitry
Darrell Cormier
Abbeville, Louisiana
cornbreads@bellsouth.net
New Zealand Whites


Drews Rabbitry
Kenneth and Imogene Drews
Marlin, Texas
kenneth_drews@sbcglobal.net
Californians and Palomino


Double T Rabbitry
Dani and Austin Trosper
Anacoco, Louisiana
country_girl19742001@yahoo.com
Home (337) 286-5178 Cell (337) 424-0493
Mini Rex, Dutch, Tans and English Spots


Ford Eastin
Picayune, Mississippi
eastin@bellsouth.net
New Zealand Whites and Californians


Tracey & Tyrone Freeman
Bogalusa, Louisiana
tntscountrycritters@hotmail.com
Jersey Wooly


Furry Friends Rabbitry
Misti, Elizabeth & Sarah Richards
Ragley, Louisiana
ahr111492@att.blackberry.net
Mini Lops, Holland Lops, Netherland Dwarf and Meat Rabbits


Mollie Gardner
Bernice, Louisiana
molliegardner@hotmail.com
Lion Head, Dwarf Hotot, Mini Rex, Fuzzy Lop, Mini Lop, Standard Chinchilla, Californian, Cinnamon, Silver Marten, Silver Fox and Flemish Giants


Doug Girard
Carencro, Louisiana
cajunrabbits@yahoo.com
Satins


Guerin's Rabbitry
Blair, Julie, Austin & Ryan Guerin
Plaquemine, Louisiana
blairguerin@cox.net
Mini Rex


Lynn & Yvonne Hebert
St. Martinville, Louisiana
HEBELY00@AOL.COM
Dutch


Hidden Luck Ranch
Anna, Chase, Nathan & Nicole Boehringer
Ennis, Texas
hiddenluckranch@yahoo.com
(972) 743 8598
Mini Rex

Warren, Tammy & Alice Himel
Franklin, Louisiana
Mini Rex, Florida Whites, Polish, BEW and Netherland Dwarf


Hobby Farm Rabbits
Karen Guillory
Pollock, Louisiana
hobbyfarmrabbits@yahoo.com
Holland Lop, Netherland Dwarf and Polish


Holden Rabbit Ranch
Carrie, Tabitha, Victoria & Butch LaBoyteaux
Holden, Louisiana
rabbidwifeoriginal@yahoo.com
225-235-3764
Netherland Dwarf, New Zealand Whites, Flemish Giant, French Lop, Holland Lop, Mini Rex, Thrianta, Californian, English Spot and Himalayan


J.W. Bayou Bunnies
Sherry & Jade Burns
Alexandria, Louisiana
Bsherry846@aol.com
French Lops, Holland Lops, Mini Lops, Jersey Wooly, Mini Rex and English Angora


KC Rabbitry
Christy & Katherine Moss
Ragley, Louisiana
bckmoss@hotmail.com
Holland Lops and Netherland Dwarfs


K & M Stelly Mini Lops
Jason, Renee, Kodie & Mattie Stelly
Carencro, Louisiana
jrkkmstelly@bellsouth.net
Mini Lops


Kraemer's Cajun Bunnies
Ken & Angelle Kraemer
Raceland, Louisiana
Kraemerscajunbunnies@yahoo.com
(985) 665-7817
Holland Lops and Mini Rex


Krauskopf's Legend Oaks Rabbitry
David & Susan Krauskopf
Temple, Texas
susanann1955@yahoo.com
Netherland Dwarf and Holland Lops


Krazy Kajun Bunny Farm
Richard & Nola Vincent
Coteau, Louisiana
cajunvincent@hotmail.com
Netherland Dwarf and Polish


Larindy's Bunny Barn
Larindy Guidry
Ragley, Louisiana
ememlg@yahoo.com
Netherland Dwarf and Holland Lop


Lottiedah Rabbitry
Cheryl Guerin
Folsom, Louisiana
mamamimzi@aol.com
English Lops and Holland Lops


Loupe's Bunny Barn
Maurice & Tammy Loupe
Lockport, Louisiana
tloupe@bellsouth.net
(985) 805-0719
French Lops, Holland Lops, Netherland Dwarfs, New Zealand Reds, San Juans and Californian


M&M's Rabbitry
Cheryl Moyers
DeRidder, Louisiana
dandcmoyers@wnonline.net
Belgian Hares, Dutch and Holland Lop


Niko's Rabbitry
Nicole Guevara
Ruston, Louisiana
nikorabbitry@gmail.com
Holland Lops


RD Rabbitry
Ronnie & Dana Duhon
Morse, Louisiana
rdrabbitryranch@yahoo.com
337-356-3954
Netherland Dwarfs, Tans and French Lops


Ranchland Rabbitry
Hannah Rashall
Kountze, Texas
staceerashall@yahoo.com
French and Holland Lops


Rayne Drops
Carol & Kristen Petitjean
Rayne, Louisiana
carolpetitjean@yahoo.com
(337) 581-1903
Netherland Dwarf, Holland Lop, Mini Lop, Mini Rex and Dutch


Red Hills Farms
Emily LaMarca
Independence, Louisiana
redhillfarms@live.com
(985) 878-3718
Mini Rex and Holland Lops


Rhodus Rabbit Shack
Buck, Sheila, Hannah & Raylyn Rhodus
Denham Springs, Louisiana
RHODUSRABBITSHACK@COX.NET
(225) 235-6488
Californian, Checkered Giants, Harlequin, Holland Lops, Jersey Wooly, Lilac, English Lops, French Lops, Mini Rex, New Zealand, Rex, Rhinelander and Lion Head


Riverside Rabbit Ranch
Kevin LeBlanc
Port Allen, Louisiana
kmlebla@cox.net
Mini Rex, Netherland Dwarf and Havana


Rockin E Rabbits
Michael Ellerbe & Madeline Martin
Gilbert, Louisiana
patriciae@bayou.com
Dutch, Dwarf Hotot, Florida White, Polish, French Lop and Jersey Wooly


Rocking HP Rabbit Farm
Brent Harrington
Kaplan, Louisiana
rockinghp@kaplantel.ne
Dutch, Californians, New Zealand White, Mini Rex


Steve & Shirley Rome
Gross Tete, Louisiana
calmart01@aol.com
Silver Marten, Havana, Californian and New Zealand Reds

Schexnayder's Rabbitry
Godfred Schexnayder
Labadieville, Louisiana
(318) 644-3607
Californians, Flemish Giants, New Zealand Reds

Shelia's Bunny Barn
Shelia Humphries
Hessmer, Louisiana
sheliahumphries@yahoo.com
Jersey Wooly, Mini Lop, Mini Rex, Satins


Silver Star Rabbitry
Emily Stidd
North Louisiana
silvermarten@aol.com
Silver Marten, Mini Rex and Netherland Dwarf


Douglas Slaven
Baton Rouge, Louisiana
nashcat@cox.net
Californians and New Zealands


Bruce & Sheila Spillers
Choudrant, Louisiana
bsfarms@bayou.com
Satin and Mini Satin


Chris & Lacey Trahan
Iowa, Louisiana
oak_tree_chris@yahoo.com
Netherland Dwarf


Turtleback Farm
Glenn (Zeke) & Collette Waters
St. Maurice, Louisiana
collettewaters@hotmail.com
(318) 646-9657
Champagne d'Argent, Checkered Giants, French Lops and Flemish Giants


Wilson Rabbit Ranch
Dennis & Terri Wilson
Monterey, Louisiana
wilsonrabbitranch@yahoo.com
(318) 386-9009
Flemish Giants, Dutch, Mini Lops, Jersey Wooly, California and New Zealands


Yawn Station Rabbits
Joe Wayne & Kay Gersch
Gersch--yawnstation@yahoo.com

Source: http://www.louisianarba.net/ and Individual Rabbitries

Show Guidelines

By Destiny Bearden, LRBA Youth Ambassador of the Year 2011

Your bunny will be judged against bunnies of the same breed, age and color. Judges use the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) Standard of Perfection. Each part of the bunny is worth certain points with the total points adding to 100. Each rabbit is judged by comparison to the others in the same class and the judge tries to find the one that fits the closest to its standard. You are expected to be a good sport. This includes putting your bunny on the table and standing back so the judge will not know which bunny is yours. Do not follow or point to your bunny. Listen carefully in case the judge has a question or something to say about your bunny. Do not speak aloud or criticize judges' opinions. Remember, everyone thinks they have the best bunny but there can only be one winner and the judges' decision is final. Also, always remember that no matter who wins, everyone has worked hard so be respectful of their hard work.

Here is a list of the most common disqualifications that I know of:

• Unhealthy appearance


• Ears too long


• Toenails or eyes not matching required colors


• Dewlap


• Missing toes


• Bad teeth


• Broken tail


• Under or over weight limits

You can watch for these things when you do your daily rabbit health check.

Rabbit Health Check List

By Destiny Bearden, LRBA Youth Ambassador of the Year 2011

Almost all rabbit health problems can be avoided with good management. Clean cage, clean water, regular high quality feed, daily handling and inspection and lots of love and attention do the trick. Rabbits do not need routine vet care like lots of other animals so it is up to you to keep your bunny healthy and happy. I use this check list as part of my daily routine:

• Make sure water source is working properly - rabbits will not eat if they cannot drink.


• Check feeders to make sure they cannot be bumped off and they have no rough edges.


• Check cages for sharp spots or places bunnies could escape from.


• Hold your bunnies every day so you can feel if they are losing weight and do a head to tail check while loving on them. Check for cuts, lumps or injuries while you are holding them. Nose should be clean with no discharge. Check ears for mites. Check teeth for breaks, chips and proper alignment (top over bottom). Fur should be healthy feeling and shiny - fur loss might mean body mites. Check bottom of pads for sores and fur loss. Trim nails regularly. Look for redness or swelling of private parts as this might mean infection.

Bunnies usually sit hunched up and act tired when they feel bad. If your bunny is not acting normal there is most likely a problem. If you cannot figure out what it is, it is time to contact your vet right away.

Cleaning

Keeping your rabbit pen clean is the best way to control disease. Your rabbit depends on you to keep it healthy.


Clean cages and equipment help prevent diseases in rabbits. Sanitize the equipment every month or whenever your rabbit has had a disease. Use a chlorine bleach solution to sanitize.


Put 1 cup of bleach in 1 gallon of water. After you have removed the fur and manure from the cage with a wire brush, put some of the chlorine bleach in a spray bottle and spray the entire cage. Let it dry before you return the rabbits to the cage. If the cage has a wooden floor, it needs to be cleaned every day and sanitaized every week. Other disinfectants can be used, but make sure they will not irritate the rabbits.


Cleaning Tips

You can clean the feeding and watering equipment daily with a milder bleach solution (1/4 cup bleach to 1 gallon water). Clean the hutches and cages at least once a week with a stronger bleach solution (1 cup bleach to 1 gallon water).


Let your equipment dry in the sun. Direct sunlight is also a disinfectant.


Use a vacuum or a stiff bristle brush to remove loose fur on cages and other equipment before it becomes a problem.


Disease can also come from using old cages or nest boxes discarded by other breeders or former rabbit enthusiasts. Do not use equipment from these sources until they are disinfected with bleach and direct sunlight.


Source: 4-H Cooperative Curriculum System BU-6069 What's Hoppening?

External Parasites of Rabbits

It's important to know how to recognize and control ear mites, mange mites and fleas. These parasites can cause serious problems in a herd of rabbits.

Ear Canker or Ear Mange

Ear canker is caused by common ear mites (psoroptes cuniculi). The mites live in the ear canal and damage the skin. A brown, waxy material covers the inner ear. This encrustation is dried blood, cellular debris, keratin and mites in various stages of development.


An effective treatment is to remove the encrustation with a cotton swab soaked in mineral or vegetable oil. Allow some of the oil to run into the ear passage. Repeat this procedure in four days. A 0.25 percent suspension of Lindane in mineral oil is an affective medication. Ivermectin has proven to be very effective at controlling ear canker. Inject 0.20 cc if Ivermectin just beneath the skin at the nape of the neck. Remember all your rabbits need to be treated if you find an infected animal. Sanitation is important for control.


Mange

Mites cause the skin to become dry, scaly, irritated and itchy with hair loss in the affected areas. Treat with a powder containing 0.25 percent Lindane. The best control method is good sanitation.


Fleas

Rabbit, dog and cat fleas occasionally have been reported on rabbits. There are four stages in the life cycle of a flea - egg, larva, pupa and adult. The eggs are deposited in nesting material and cracks of the nest boxes. The eggs hatch into larvae that form the pupae from which the adult emerges. Treat the rabbits by dusting with a commercial preparation of Pyrethrum or Rotenone. Properly destroy nesting materials and wash the nest boxes using bleach (1 cup bleach to 1 gallon water). Keep cats and dogs away from all rabbit supplies, especially nesting materials.


Source: 4-H Cooperative Curriculum System BU-6069 What's Hoppening?