As The Price Of Local Angoras Plummet...

As the price of angora rabbits plummet locally, I continue to be shocked- even though I consistently believe I can no longer feel shocked.

While I am used to watching French angoras sell (locally) for $40.00, I am not used to seeing Germans and German hybrids advertised for $75.00 or, even worse, $50.00.

When I first became interested in Germans, the lowest price I came across was $250.00 while a German who had a good chance of being registered didn’t go for less than $350.00. Some well- known German breeders wouldn’t sell for less than $500.00.

These prices were justified, though, and an unbiased, objective method was used to determine these prices.

The truth is that rabbits that cost so much were highly valued and treated well. Why would someone pay $300.00 for a rabbit and then turn around and neglect him/ her? The high price of Germans kept them safe.

The problem is that, unless all German breeders share this belief and work with each other- using the method of pricing described above- it all falls apart.

And it is. German hybrids are now being advertised in my area for $50.00 per rabbit.

With the going price for Germans and their hybrid kin in my area so low, one might ask why I refuse to lower my prices- which is a legitimate question that begs to be answered.

Soooooo- here goes.

First off, I believe in using an objective, fair method of pricing my rabbits. Using the French Method, I am able to use fiber totals and the suggested price of angora fiber to determine how much my rabbits are worth. This formula uses a numerical basis for appraisal from which number values can be added or subtracted- depending on an individual rabbit’s characteristics.

This method protects both breeder and customer and is fair to human and rabbit alike.

So, my prices are not based on the local market, or what other local breeders are charging but rather a general method that is not contingent upon local prices.

Second, my rabbits provide fiber; and will continue to provide high- quality, usable fiber throughout their entire life. Thus, buying an angora rabbit is an investment that will pay for itself several times over. You can pay for angora fiber each time you are working on a project, or you can pay one time for a rabbit and use it’s fiber for years; the choice is yours. As a fiber artist, I can appreciate paying more at one time to save money in the long run. I can also appreciate the enormous sense of accomplishment felt when one is responsible for creating everything that goes into a project- from the sheared fiber to the woven shawl; this feeling is priceless.

Third, it costs more money to feed rabbits a high- quality feed than it does to feed cheaper- and thus lower quality- pellets. It also costs more to build/ purchase larger cages. Veterinary care, nutritional supplements and additional feeds add up as well. The truth is that it is expensive to do things right but, if one feels strongly that doing things ethically, responsibly, and respectfully is right, then the added expense is justified.

Fourth, I spend valuable time with and on my rabbits. I take my role as a breeder/ keeper very seriously and believe that I deserve just compensation for a job well done. I think through every breeding and put an enormous amount of time into researching rabbit health and behavior issues. I make sure that all of my rabbits are properly socialized and groomed so that they are easy to groom and handle once they leave my rabbitry.

My breeding program focuses on breeding rabbits who will produce large volumes of high- quality fiber. Not all angoras are created equal and, believe it or not, not all angoras produce high- quality fiber. Moreover, some angoras produce more fiber than others. I keep extensive records regarding wool totals and evaluate the quality (crimp, color, synchronization, etc.) of all of my rabbits. Those who don’t fit the bill aren’t bred. I devote an enormous amount of time and energy to my breeding program and the results speak for themselves. While the price of my rabbits might be higher than the prices charged by other breeders, the quality inherent in my rabbits justifies the cost.

Fifth, I am not a rabbit seller as much as I am a participant in angora culture. When I sell a rabbit, I am also selling my knowledge and experience. Because I want my rabbits and their people to build a successful, happy relationship, I am there for my customers. Any time a concern or question pops up, I am available to offer help and advice.

I am dedicated to the health and happiness of angoras; as someone who has taken in rescues, I feel strongly about high standards of care and selective breeding and selling.

Sixth, I do not need to sell my rabbits; I am not desperate. I know what my rabbits are worth and I will not sell them for any less. I provide high- quality fiber- producing rabbits (with wonderful temperaments) for a limited customer base (fiber artists wishing to create high- quality products). Anyone who wants an exemplary animal from a responsible and ethical breeder will be willing to pay more for the privilege. Anyone who wants less will find and pay for less.

Seventh, I do not ascribe to the belief that fiber rabbits should be cheap- and thus disposable- pets. Sadly, the fact that rabbits can be purchased for so low a price seems to contribute to the fact that they are so often neglected and abandoned. I believe that there is a direct correlation between how much a rabbit costs and the care it receives. Perhaps this is due to the fact that someone who looks for a cheap rabbit will treat him as a cheap (disposable) rabbit while someone who is willing to spend a bit more is also willing to adopt higher standards of care. Perhaps it is due to the fact that most rational people treat long- term investments better than cheap, disposable purchases.

In any case, I have no desire/ need to undercut any other breeder; they sell what they sell and I sell what I sell; the two aren’t comparable.

Moreover, by charging more, I am not participating in what I consider to be an unethical and irresponsible local Angora market. Decent, responsible breeders charge accordingly; this sets them apart from those that aren’t decent and responsible.
Last, I am not a large- scale breeder. At the moment, I breed for my own needs and with a long- term goal in mind. I don't advertise as a pet breeder but instead breed with the Breed Standard of Perfection and the fiber artist in mind. I don't mass produce rabbits and thus don't have an unending supply of rabbits to sell. My prices reflect this.

You- a local customer or breeder- may wonder who I think I am and why I believe I have the right to speak so judgmentally about other breeders.

First off, I must state that there are some exemplary breeders in my area. Most have had to close up shop because they could not longer remain solvent in the current local market. Some have recognized an oversupply/ over population of angoras locally and do not wish to introduce more (potentially unwanted) angoras into the market. Others could not justify the high cost of doing things right in a market in which angoras are going for next to nothing; after all most breeders are not wealthy and thus the business of breeding most be self- sustainable.
Second, I must state that I firmly believe many of the local issue with regards to angoras can be traced back to one (or more) breeders who, for whatever reason, decided to either unload stock at significantly reduced rates, or decided to sell as cheaply as possible in order to earn a quick buck. In either case, customers were ill- informed and, as a result, passed their savings on to others in the form of cheap offspring out of the original bargain breeding pairs.
4- H, I believe, is also to blame. Craigslist and Hoobly are full of former 4- H rabbits that could not be sold at the local fair. Personally, I have taken in two former 4- H "projects" and so have an understanding of how some local 4- H chapters work.
While I think it is great that young people learn to work with and care for animals- especially in today's culture in which humans have lost touch with their agricultural past- I don't think that 4- H always teaches young people follow- through and responsibility. It seems that, once the fair is over, some 4-H participants don't get that the animal shown in the fair still needs attention and care after the fair. As a result, frustrated parents and/ or participants sell former projects at extremely cheap prices- thus flooding the local market with cheap breeding stock that will, in turn, produce cheap breeding stock for generations to come.
Unfortunately, local 4- H chapters don't seem to teach about the local economy/ market, fair pricing, etc.
In any case, someone ended up buying a cheap breeding pair and began breeding. The rest is history.
As a result, I must state that, as someone who has rescued too many Angora rabbits born at the same two local rabbitries (and two more purchased at a “fiber fest”), I have definitely formed a strong opinion about ethical angora breeding and keeping. Many times over, I’ve witnessed the kind of life that a $40.00 or $50.00 rabbit ends up living and thus I refuse to be competitive with my prices at the expense of the well- being and happiness of my rabbits.
I don't believe that breeders who sell at such low prices mean any harm; I just don't believe that they have really thought through what life could be life for the rabbits they, in some cases, mass- produce, and then sell as cheaply as possible. I also do not think that they understand what consequences their cheap prices have had on the local angora market yet- ironically- the low prices they charge today will come back to bite them in the butt tomorrow... as the prices continue to drop.

I have also witnessed an unwillingness on the part of rabbit owners- both present and potential- to educate themselves about ethical breeding and basic standards of care. On short, there are simply too many people who are more than willing to support irresponsible and unethical breeding- whether it be as a result of ignorance or simply wanting to find a good “deal.”
Moreover, while there are a good many local angora rabbits, very few exemplify the breed standard of perfection and, as more and more uneducated people decide to start a breeding business (using cheap stock), there will be fewer and fewer decent show- worthy specimens.

What say you?