Brazilian Rabbit Breed - Brazilian Rabbit Folktale - Redress

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Brazilian domestic rabbit
The Brazilian Rabbit is a medium sized hardy breed originated in Brazil. They were developed as a meat breed.
Brazilian Rabbit Breed History/Origin
The Brazilian Rabbit is a popular pet rabbit breed that is native to South America, and it is common in the countryside, as well as suburban districts and market areas, in Brazil. These are considered European domestic rabbits, and it is thought that they were introduced to Brazil by Portuguese sailors.
Although there are some breeders in the United Kingdom and in the United States, particularly in Arizona, where a small population of these rabbits has grown since they were introduced in the 1980s by a Peace Corp volunteer who was returning home, this breed is not recognized by the British Rabbit Council (BRC) or the American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA). As a result, this breed is common in Brazil, but rare in other parts of the world.
Now I had found some information on line, but then I came apon a page called http://rabbitgeek.com/breed/brazilian.html which was written by the Peace Corp volunteer.
The Rabbits From Brazil
(or “zils” to their friends!)
by Kathleen Blair, Ph.D

Hello, and thanks for your interest in the Brazilian rabbit breed!
Here is their story.
I was in the Peace Corps from 1978-1980 stationed in Pico da Bandiera National Park near the small town of Caparao in the Serra do Mar mountain range. Many of the families there are very poor. Most were tenant farmers with the entire family (including the small children) working for large landowners tending the trees and picking the coffee beans you probably had for breakfast.
The diet is almost entirely rice, beans, sugar and coffee. Some fruit grows at that elevation and most had little garden plots and a couple of chickens. But there were not a dozen people in the whole valley that were rich enough to have a milk cow. A few lucky older children might have a goat they led around on a string and let graze on the roadside so they could get milk sometimes for themselves and their smaller brothers and sisters. Few even owned a change of clothes or a pair of shoes. Their coffee cups were often tin cans with the edges carefully smoothed.
An American was a novelty that was straight from Disneyland as far as they were concerned and the kids would come to visit me in the park even if they had to walk 2-3 miles (one way) to do so. They also came to play soccer with a large grapefruit or a ball of rags in my yard as it was the only “terreiro” in the valley not dedicated to drying and curing coffee beans.
I had left a pet house rabbit back in the states and had picked up another (long story) while in Brazil. The kids were utterly fascinated by Pipoca (the house rabbit = yet another story).
One day I happened to notice that about half the kids had disappeared. When I asked where they were I was told they had gone home for lunch. I asked why everyone had not - was the game that good? They looked at me puzzled and said “it is not our day to eat lunch. We will find some fruit in the forest or wait until supper to eat.”
My grandfather had owned a commercial rabbitry in southern Missouri that sold to Pel-freez, a commercial rabbit meat processor. I knew rabbits would fit into this terribly tight food web and put protein on the tables without competing with the kids (kids eat the beans, rabbits eat the pods; kids eat the corn, rabbits eat the shucks; kids eat the couve [kale], rabbits eat the weeds.) So I went to the local farmers and the weekly markets looking for meat-type rabbits.
There were breeds such as New Zealands and Dutch but they were associated with the thriving commercial meat and pet markets around the large cities (besides, I don’t do white rabbits with pink eyes – too spooky). Then, I came upon a breed common to the farmers and small markets in the mountains and backcountry they all called a “Rustico” (pronounced “Hus’tico”. It means “rustic”). Hardy, solid, calm, happily eating sugar cane with just a string tied around their middles. This was what I wanted. Back I went to the park and started raising rabbits in a old milking shed. The kids would come up and go to “rabbit school” – learning how to house them without using wire or nails ( no money), feed them a balanced diet from garden scraps and the forest ( no money), treat their ailments with first aid and herbs and even charms as long as it worked! (no money.)
The Peace Corps nurse sent a book on Brazilian herbal remedies, I found a book on rabbit diseases written in Portuguese, and I cheerfully drafted the local farmers, curandeiras and Candomble Pai-do-Santos. When the kids “graduated” I would ride down the mountain on the horse and give them a breeding age trio in a gunnysack (uh, coffee sack).
By the time I left a couple of years later, there were many functioning rabbitries in that valley putting at least a few more meals on the table and fewer kids who did not have to take turns eating. Oh, yeah – and when I came home – a pair of Brazilian Rusticos came with me – Pipoca and Poppy. They must have joined the Mile-High Club – 30 days after arrival there were 15. All the Brazilians in the USA have come down from that original pair in 1980.
Now, this Brazilian rabbit breed has several odd characteristics compared to what we are used to in the States. No one knows how long the breed has been in existence or which European breeds went into their origins. The Brazilian farmers insisted that they “had always had them”. They are generally the old European body type, not our new commercial types – but the bucks and does look very, very different from each other.
The Brazilian rabbit bucks are thick and blocky as a brick, about 7 1/2 lbs while the does are more mandolin shaped, go 7-10 lbs (and many seem to grow slowly their whole lives long somehow – these guys have several odd traits as you will see).
The Brazilian people’s love of bright, pastel colors is evident as the breed is fixed for dilution and for melanin (black) pigment but occurs in nearly all possible colors and coat pattern variations in the dilute black family – blue is the most common, along with opal, blue chin, blue frosted white, blue steel, smoked blue pearl, tortoise-shell, blue fawn and all these in self, broken and Californian patterns. A single litter often looks like a patchwork quilt. Other than in the Californian pattern they all have blue-grey to hazel colored eyes. They have heavy bones and thick, well furred ears that they often carry open and canted forward.
The fur too, is odd and not what you might expect from a tropical breed – it has a guard hair that is rather long and coarse while the underfur is very thick resulting in fur that either stays erect when ruffled or rolls back slowly. The Brazilian rabbit youngsters look like dandelion puffs. This trait is sex linked, however, as it is most conspicuous in bucks and less so in does.
Another interesting trait is their personalities – they are intensely friendly and gentle – toward people, other rabbits and even other animals. What they want most in life is to be piled in a heap with each other, you or any other warm body they can find. The bucks will even go in and brood the bunnies on cold nights (OK – maybe they just want belly warmers, but they are also attentive and protective of babies).
I have never in all these year lost a baby that was the mother’s fault. PS – they’ve killed a few snakes, too. They seem to be able to eat anything and thrive on it. They are mostly very sociable and seldom fight, even as adults ( I frequently keep families or pairs together in cages with no problems – and I always have a bunch on the floor of the rabbitry. ( I run out of room for my snooty Rexes? Plunk, more floor ‘zils).
They are however, shy breeders as the bucks are very gentle. No problem, they do so love to play house. There is a reason for several of these odd traits, however. They have been bred and raised for uncounted generations in the backcountry of Brazil in colonies, even free-ranging colonies, similar to the conditions under which the species evolved in Europe. They are often allowed to roam the farm during the day like chickens, eating weeds and grass and whatever they can find. At night they are called in by the farmer (yes, they come when called when trained with a little food for a reward) or herded in along with the chickens and penned up for the night in sheds or small corrals.
The Brazilian rabbit does dug burrows in the corrals or under the house or chicken coop (I had one dig under my garden, under the paved ally and come out 50 feet out in the neighbor’s yard.). Other colonies I saw were in small adobe or bamboo walled corrals. So this means that the natural environment had a lot to say in these rabbit’s traits as well as human selection.
In a situation with no electricity, the rabbits were butchered as needed, and you know who got culled out first – the mean ones, the trouble makers, the unthrifty ones. Predators still took the dumb ones and those that did not do well on rough food did not make it either. Their coarse, thick fur shed the rain and mud of the tropics well. Another thing I wonder about with the thick fur, even on the ears, is the parasite loads that the tropics impose – especially mosquito borne diseases. I have seen a cloud of mosquitoes around these guys that were unable to get through the fur to bite.
SO that is the story of my “funny looking South American rabbits” and thanks for asking about them! Here in the states they make great backyard , homestead type meat rabbits – or wonderful pets, Although I have worked up a breed standard I have not yet started the process to get them recognized by ARBA although several judges have seen them over the years and offered their suggestions. They are a rather whimsically variable lot – especially in color, but one day I will get it done.
Over 25 yrs of a closed gene pool does make them pretty unique.
Kathleen Blair, Ph.D
The Bluehare Rabbitry
Lake Havasu City, AZ 86404
email: [email protected]

Coat
A Brazilian Rabbit’s coat will be thick and dense. It will also feature long, coarse guard hairs and fluffy, thick underfur that either stays erect or rolls back slowly when ruffled.
Their fur is quite thick, with long course guard hairs. They have thick, fluffy underfur that either stays erect when ruffled or rolls back slowly. The male kits look like dandelion puffs!
You will need to brush your Brazilian Rabbit at least once a week in order to remove loose fur and excess fur. Doing so will prevent matting and keep the coat clean and healthy.
Care Requirements
Because Brazilian Rabbits, like other rabbit breeds, are herbivorous, you need to provide your pet with a varied diet that consists of hays, such as Timothy hay, and commercial rabbit pellets. Fresh foods, such as leafy greens and other vegetables, as well as some fruits, can also be included in your pet’s diet. This will ensure that your rabbit gets plenty of fiber and nutrients every day. Also provide your pet with fresh, clean water at all times.
You can choose to house your Brazilian Rabbit indoors or outside. Housing these rabbits inside your home will protect them from predators, extreme temperatures, and other dangers, but be sure to rabbit-proof your house for your pet’s safety and to keep your belongings from being chewed on.
When housing a rabbit indoors, you do need to let him out to exercise and roam, as well as get access to fresh air and sunshine. You can even provide your indoor rabbit with some safe access to the great outdoors with the help of an exercise pen, lawn enclosure, or extension hutch.
Health
It is important to know that Brazilian Rabbits could be susceptible to viral infections and colds, so keep your pet away from drafts and sudden temperature changes. You should also do your best to keep your pet’s stress level as low as possible to prevent him from becoming more susceptible to illness.
Like other rabbits, Brazilian Rabbits can also become infected with ear mites or develop conjunctivitis, hairball obstructions, bloat, and intestinal problems like coccidiosis.
Average Life Span
The Brazilian rabbit lifespan can be anywhere from five to 10 years depending on the level of care they receive.
Kathleen Blair, brought a pair from Brazil to Arizona in 1980 after a two year Peace Corps project. They are the common farm rabbit in Brazil. They appear to be the European domestic rabbit (oryctolagus cuniculus).
Kathleen, said that she was told there are two strains of domestic rabbit. One originates in Spain and the other originates in Portugal.
Is there a way to get genetic testing to determine if these rabbits originate from Portugal? That would be a fascinating study if we could determine these rabbits are from Portugal. The Brazilian farmers say they have always had these rabbits. So did the Brazilian rabbits come to Brazil with the Portuguese explorers? Is there two strains of Oryctolagus Cuniculus?
http://www.petguide.com/breeds/rabbit/brazilian-rabbit/
https://www.justrabbits.com/brazilian-rabbit.html
http://rabbitgeek.com/breed/brazilian.html
https://www.farmingplan.com/brazilian-rabbit/

How the Rabbit Lost His Tail
Brazilian folktale

Once upon a time, ages and ages ago, the rabbit had a long tail, but the cat had none. She looked with envious eyes at the one which the rabbit had. It was exactly the sort of a tail she longed to have.

The rabbit was always a thoughtless careless little beast. One day he went to sleep with his beautiful long tail hanging straight out behind him. Along came Mistress Puss carrying a sharp knife, and with one blow she cut off Mr. Rabbit's tail. Mistress Puss was very spry and she had the tail nearly sewed on to her own body before Mr. Rabbit saw what she was doing.

"Don't you think it looks better on me than it did on you?" asked Mistress Puss.

"It surely is very becoming to you," replied the generous unselfish rabbit. "It was a little too long for me anyway and I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll let you keep it if you will give me that sharp knife in exchange for it."

The cat gave Mr. Rabbit the knife and he started out into the deep forest with it. "I've lost my tail but I've gained a knife," said he; "I'll get a new tail or something else just as good."

Mr. Rabbit hopped along through the forest for a long time and at last he came to a little old man who was busily engaged in making baskets. He was making the baskets out of rushes and he was biting them off with his teeth. He looked up and spied Mr. Rabbit with the knife in his mouth.

"O, please, Mr. Rabbit," said he, "will you not be so kind as to let me borrow that sharp knife you are carrying? It is very hard work to bite the rushes off with my teeth."

Mr. Rabbit let him take the knife. He started to cut off the rushes with it, when snap went the knife! It broke into halves.

"O, dear! O, dear!" cried Mr. Rabbit. "What shall I do! What shall I do! You have broken my nice new knife."

The little old man said that he was very sorry and that he did not mean to do it.

Then Mr. Rabbit said, "A broken knife is of no use to me but perhaps you can use it, even if it is broken. I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll let you keep the knife if you will give me one of your baskets in exchange for it."

The little old man gave Mr. Rabbit a basket and he started on through the deep forest with it. "I lost my tail but I gained a knife. I've lost my knife but I've gained a basket," said he. "I'll get a new tail or something else just as good."

Mr. Rabbit hopped along through the deep forest for a long time until at last he came to a clearing. Here there was an old woman busily engaged in picking lettuce. When she had gathered it she put it into her apron. She looked up and spied Mr. Rabbit hopping along with his basket.

"O, please, Mr. Rabbit," said she, "will you not be so kind as to let me borrow that nice basket you are carrying?"

Mr. Rabbit let her take the basket. She began to put her lettuce into it when out fell the bottom of the basket.

"O, dear! O, dear!" cried Mr. Rabbit. "What shall I do! What shall I do! You have broken the bottom out of my nice new basket."

The old woman said that she was very sorry and that she did not mean to do it.

Then said Mr. Rabbit, "I'll tell you what I'll do. I'll let you keep that broken basket if you will give me some of your lettuce."

The old woman gave Mr. Rabbit some lettuce and he hopped along with it, saying, "I lost my tail but I gained a knife. I lost my knife but I gained a basket. I lost my basket but I gained some lettuce."

The rabbit was getting very hungry and how nice the lettuce smelled! He took a bite. It was just the very best thing he had ever tasted in all his life. "I don't care if I did lose my tail," said he, "I've found something I like very much better."

From that day to this no rabbit has ever had a tail. Neither has there ever been a rabbit who cared because he had no tail. From that time to this there has never been a rabbit who did not like lettuce to eat and who was not perfectly happy and contented if there was plenty of it.

Fairy tales from Brazil
Notes: Subtitled "How and why tales from Brazilian folk-lore", this book contains 18 Brazilian folktales.
Author: Elsie Spicer Eells
Published: 1917
Publisher: Dodd, Mead and Company, Inc., Chicago

https://www.worldoftales.com/South_American_folktales/South_American_Folktale_6.html

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