What is in-breeding?

In-breeding refers to the practice of breeding rabbits that are closely related, such as siblings or parents to offspring. This method aims to consolidate certain desirable traits within a lineage, allowing breeders to produce offspring that consistently exhibit specific characteristics, such as coat color, size, or temperament. However, while in-breeding can enhance certain traits, it also increases the risk of genetic disorders and health issues due to the decreased genetic diversity, which can lead to a higher likelihood of diseases and reduced vitality in the rabbits.

Other options describe different breeding practices: breeding unrelated rabbits fosters genetic diversity, breeding rabbits of the same breed does not specify their relationship (they could be distantly related), and breeding different breeds altogether aims to create hybrids with varied traits. Understanding in-breeding is crucial for rabbit breeders to balance trait consolidation with the genetic health of their rabbits.