EDELWEISS RANCH & RABBITRY
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En-Locus (English Spotting)

Genes: En en

Picture
The English Spotting, or Broken, gene creates a more or less random pattern of white spots or patches over the rabbit's color. Usually, the patterns are very smooth-edged. There are only two genes in this color group: En and en.

En: BROKEN PATTERN

  • Most dominant gene, dominant to en.
  • Common varieties of En: Most broken patterns
  • Possible gene combinations of the En locus with En as the dominant gene: EnEn, Enen

En is always dominant over en. Any rabbit with one copy of the En gene will automatically be broken-patterned. The colored portions of the fur are patched or blanketed with white in between. Ideally, a broken patterned rabbit should have a balanced marking on its nose (known as a butterfly), the ears should be fully colored, the front feet should be white, and the colored portion should be more than 10% but not exceed more than 50% coverage.
This gene has partial dominance- it is ALWAYS expressed if present. Rabbit cannot “carry” the broken gene- they are either broken, or not. Two solid rabbits CANNOT produce a broken rabbit.
This gene also affects the ej (harlequin) gene, turning the banded pattern into a spotted pattern (usually called tri-colored or, in the case of a magpie, piebald or broken magpie).

en: NO BROKEN GENE

  • Recessive gene, recessive to En.
  • Common varieties of en: Any non-broken pattern.
  • Possible gene combinations of the En locus with en as the dominant gene: enen (solid rabbit)

Rabbits without the En gene will not display the broken coat patterns.

Charlies

"Charlie" is the term for a rabbit with less than 10% color. There are two types of Charlies- genetic Charlies (EnEn) and false Charlies (Enen but with less than 10% color- technically just a poorly patterned broken). True genetic Charlies (En) typically lack nose spots. Genetic Charlies (EnEn) will only ever be able to contribute an En gene, so will always pass on one copy of the gene to their offspring, resulting in always broken-patterned kits. There is some belief that Charlies may be more prone to digestive issues such as megacolon. Charlies are also not recognized in many breeds. However, they can be useful to a breeding program- if you are willing to wait for a second generation, the resulting Charlies could be bred with a solid-colored rabbit, resulting in all brokens. I've heard that the term "Charlie" comes from Charlie Chaplin, because the abbreviated butterfly (nose marking) that most Charlies have.
Picture
Enen: Heavily marked broken red Rex, bred by Ellie Attebery and owned by Edelweiss Ranch & Rabbitry
Picture
Enen: Black/Orange tricolor Rex bred by Edelweiss Ranch & Rabbitry
Picture
Enen: Heavily marked gold-stipped steel mini lop bred by Edelweiss Ranch & Rabbitry

REW RABBITS (cc) AND THE BROKEN GENE

Because the REW (Ruby Eyed White) gene (cc) masks all color and pattern, it's impossible to tell by just looking at a REW rabbit whether it is a solid (enen), broken (Enen), or Charlie (EnEn). You may be able to determine whether the rabbit expresses the En gene by the pedigree/parents, but otherwise the best way to determine is to test breed to a solid (enen) rabbit and test breed.

BOOTED MODIFIER

There are several gene modifiers that can affect a broken pattern. Booted is one of the more common modifiers, and results in a rabbit with more than 50% color. Booted rabbits often have the appearance of wearing white "boots," hence the name "booted." Booted rabbits typically have white on the feet, throat, and forehead.
Picture
Booted castor Rex, bred by Edelweiss Ranch & Rabbitry

OTHER WHITE-MARKING GENES

There are other genes that can cause white spots or white markings on a solid rabbit that are NOT the broken gene such as the Dutch gene (Du) and the Vienna gene (V).

Gene Possibilities

  1. Solid (enen) x Solid (enen)= 100% Solid
  2. Solid (enen) x Broken (Enen)= 50% Solid, 50% Broken
  3. Broken (Enen) x Broken (Enen)= 50% Broken, 25% Solid, 25% Charlie
  4. Charlie (EnEn) x Solid (enen)= 100% Broken
  5. Charlie (EnEn) x Broken (Enen)= 50% Broken, 50% Charlie
  6. Charlie (EnEn) x Charlie (EnEn)= 100% Charlie
Picture
3 kits from the same litter- booted red, solid red, broken red
Picture
Charlie (EnEn) to Solid (enen) results in 100% Broken (Enen)
Picture
Broken (Enen) to Broken (Enen) results in 50% Broken, 25% Charlie, 25% Solid

Moving on to Other Genes

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  • Home
  • Rabbit Resources
    • Apocalypse Bunnies
    • Wild Rabbits
    • Reasons to Raise Rabbits
    • Printables
    • Start Here
    • Rabbit Lingo Demystified
    • Getting Started >
      • Choosing a Breed
      • How Many Do I Need
      • Buying Rabbits >
        • Be A Good Buyer
        • Holiday Pets
        • Before You Buy
        • Finding a Good Breeder
        • Transporters
      • Supplies and Equipment >
        • Suppliers
    • Your New Rabbit
    • Colonies and Tractors
    • Conformation
    • Record Keeping >
      • How To Make a Pedigree
      • Is A Pedigree Important
      • Changing Rabbit Names
      • Tattoo Systems
      • Registering Rabbits
    • Breeding >
      • Getting Ready For Kits
      • Cobreeding
      • Weaning
      • Sexing Kits
      • Wild Rabbits
    • Rabbits for Meat >
      • Rabbit Meat Facts
      • Butchering Equipment
      • Dispatching
      • Processing
    • Cooking Rabbit >
      • Cooking Tips
      • Using the Extra Bits
      • Sloppy Hoppies
      • Rabbit Alfredo
    • Health and Treatments >
      • Care and Grooming
      • Nutrition
      • First Aid Kits
      • Ear Mites
      • Fur Mites
      • Malocclusion
      • Bloat
      • Natural Rabbit Remedies
    • Showing Rabbits >
      • Entering a Show
      • The Day of the Show
      • Show Etiquette
    • Genetics >
      • Genetic Terminology
      • Genetic Alphabet
      • A-Locus
      • B-Locus
      • C-Locus
      • D-Locus
      • E-Locus
      • En-Locus
      • Other Genes
      • Punnett Squares
      • Further Genetic Resources
    • Rex or Mini Rex
    • Sales Policy
    • RHDV
  • About
    • Directions
    • Contact
  • Events
    • Classes and Workshops
    • PNW Farm Barter Faire
  • Critters
    • Rabbits
    • KuneKune Pigs
    • Sheep
  • ISO
  • Links
  • For Sale
  • RFSAS
    • RFSAS Pinned Post
    • Forbidden Topics
    • RFSAS Rules
    • RFSAS FAQs
    • RFSAS Breeder Data Entry Forms >
      • RFS&S Breeder Map
      • RFS&S Breeder Listings
    • RFS&S Breeder Map
    • RFSAS Breeder List >
      • American
      • American Chinchilla
      • American Fuzzy Lop
      • American Sable
      • Argente Brun
      • Belgian Hare
      • Beveren
      • Blanc de Hotot
      • Brittania Petite
      • Californian
      • Champagne d'Argent
      • Checkered Giant
      • Cinnamon
      • Continental Giant
      • Creme d'Argent
      • Czech Frosty
      • Dutch
      • Dwarf Hotot
      • Dwarf Papillon
      • English Angora
      • English Lop
      • English Spot
      • Flemish Giant
      • Florida White
      • French Angora
      • French Lop
      • Giant Angora
      • Giant Chinchilla
      • Harlequin
      • Havana
      • Himalayan
      • Holland Lop
      • Jersey Wooly
      • Lilac
      • Lionhead
      • Mini Lop
      • Mini Rex
      • Mini Satin
      • Netherland Dwarf
      • New Zealand
      • Palomino
      • Polish
      • Rex
      • Rhinelander
      • San Juan
      • Satin
      • Satin Angora
      • Silver
      • Silver Fox
      • Silver Marten
      • Standard Chinchilla
      • Tamuk
      • Tan
      • Thrianta
      • Velveteen Lop
      • Other Breeds and Mixes