By Bob D. Whitman
Satins were a major mutation which occurred in the United States in the rabbitry of Walter Huey of Pendleton, Indiana. Huey, was a dedicated breeder of Havanas, and in trying to improve their brown color and fur qualities, he began to inbred his stock. During this process, the first Satin mutation occurred in 1934. Walter Huey, sent animals to Harvard University, where geneticists determined that this new mutation was a simple recessive gene for the shine and texture of the coat, but not length. When Huey showed these Havanas with the brilliant sheen against the normal Havanas, a storm of protest ensued, therefore the rabbits were given the name of Satin Havanas, and recognized by the National Havana Club.
Sadly, Walter Huey would pass away on Friday, August 15, 1937, at the age of just 53 years from heart failure.
Since the Satin mutation was a recessive gene, like that of the popular Rex breed, breeders quickly began to Satinize many of the breeds of the day. Professor Castle, a famous American geneticist of the time wrote of the mutation, “The Satin mutation , like the Rex, is an interesting plaything for the fancier.” A National Satin Club was first formed in 1936, by Walter Huey and John C. Fehr, but soon folded. It was announced in 1942, that at Akron, Ohio show on March 5 to 8, the American Federation of Havana Breeders voted to sponsor the Satin breed in the various colors. By 1939, Satin colors could be found in; Brown, Black, Blue, White, and Orange. John C. Fehr, was very keen on the breed, and was breeding all these colors, plus working on the development of the Chinchilla Satin. Fehr, even created the Satin Angora, but said that the wool was so fine, that it was worthless as a commercial venture.
In 1946, another club was organized for the breed, the American Satin Rabbit Breeders Association with two colors recognized, Ruby-eyed White and Chinchillas, but with two different sets of points for the two varieties, as the emphasis on type was placed on the White, which were developed from New Zealand Whites, and on color for the Chinchilla variety. By 1950, a number of proposed standards were being suggested to the American Rabbit & Cavy Breeders Association to get Lilac, Orange, Black, Copper, as well as a few other colors recognized, however these had to be presented at three National Convention Shows. In 1956, eight varieties were recognized for the breed. Siamese Satin, were accepted in 1965 and in this same year one standard set of points were written for all the varieties was established. Wesley W. Dixon, of California, developed the Californian Satin, as well as the ever popular Siamese. The Siamese were produced from a Black Satin doe that Dixon had purchase from the late George Sutherland. Through a Black to Black pairing the Siamese were produced, to the amazement of both gentlemen, who perfected the variety over three years. The beautiful Broken Satins were finally recognized in 1985, which gave a huge boost to the breed. Otter Satins, were recognized in 2001.
From the shinny babies found in the nest box of Walter Huey in 1934, the Satin breed, has been recognized throughout the world, by every national rabbit governing body, but credit must be given to the Americans, for perfecting this beautiful breed as an outstanding dual purpose rabbit, for meat, fur and show. Satins, weigh in at 8.5 to 11 pounds, or 3.85 to 5 kg. Walter Huey, would be very proud of his rabbits today. So why not add a whole lot of sparkle to the rabbitry with Satins.
AMERICA’S NEWEST BREED THE MINI SATIN
Mini Satins are an American creation, which began in the late 1970’s by a Mrs. Ariel Hayes, of Troy, Michigan, and she called her small Satins, “Satinettes.” To create the breed, the normal Satin breed was mated to Polish, and when she gave up on her breeding program in 1982, Hayes had the size down to 4.5 pounds. Ariel Hayes, disposed of the all of her Satinettes for pets or perhaps the dinner table.
During the late 1980’s a Netherland Dwarf breeder by the name of B. Pettit, began working on putting a satin coat to the Dwarfs. He would be joined by Sue and Verle Castle in 1990, when they purchased some of his stock. Pettit, created his small Satins by the normal Satin and Netherland Dwarf crosses. Later in 1990 a Michigan man was located that was breeding a Satinette, who said that he started in 1983, but would not divulge his methods or if they were purchase from Ariel Hayes. He said that he created the Satinette name. This man was not able to attend the National Rabbit Conventions to present the new breed, due to his work schedule during that time of the year, so by agreement with the Castles, it was decided that they would apply for the Development Certificate and present the new breed as Satinettes.
Sue and Verle Castle, wrote up a standard for the Satinettes and with agreement of the Michigan man, nine colors were chosen, which was then presented to the ARBA Standards Committee. The committee did not care for the colors chosen for the development of the breed, and assisted the parties with color selection and re-writing the standard. Colors now to be work on were; Copper, Red, Ruby-Eyed White, Sable and Siamese. The Michigan breeder, was less than happy with the changes made, and demanded that the Castles stop using the Satinette name, which they did not do, however they were forced to give up the development of the breed in January, 1994.
In February, 1994, a Jim Krahulec, purchased all of the Castle’s Satinettes, and began to develop the breed, but went to a larger version, as they were too much like a satin coated Netherland Dwarf, which gave rise to a new name and a new direction to follow in creating a breed called the Mini Satin. Krahulec, obtained three underweight normal Satin bucks and began to breed this with the Satinette does in the spring of 1994. By autumn of 1994 the normal Satins were disposed of in the breeding program, and the youngsters from those crosses were further mated to Mini Satin bucks. Jim Krahulec, submitted a proposed standard and five varieties; Black, Chocolate, Copper, Himalayan, and Red to the ARBA’s Standard Committee on June 30, 1995, and a Certificate of Development for the Mini Satin was granted in September of the same year. Jim, presented the Mini Satin at the 1998 ARBA Convention and Show in Portland, Oregon and again in Louisville, Kentucky in 1999, however the Mini Satins were failed by the Standards Committee.
J. Leo Collins, of Salem, Ohio, was granted a Certificate of Development for the Mini Satins, which were presented for the first time at the Wichita, Kansas ARBA Convention and Show in 2003, where two varieties; Ruby-Eyed White and Red, were accepted by the committee for a first showing, therefore completing one leg of their journey in becoming a recognized breed in America. In 2005 the Whites were accepted in Indiana and became the ARBA’s 47th new breed in 2006. The Mini Satins, are not to be found in Europe, as they prefer the Satin Netherland Dwarfs. This little sparkling rabbit weighs in at 3.25 to 4.75 lb. or 1.5 to 2.15 kg.
In the “Land Down Under,” an Australian by the name of Warren Hill, developed the Mini Satin, starting in 1999. Hill, mated a normal size Satin with a Mini Rex. A working standard was approved by the Western Australia Rabbit Council in 2000, with the breed receiving full recognition in 2002, with a total of 60 colors and 14 patterns, as recognized by the British Rabbit Council.
The above article is published to this site, with the written permission of the original author, Bob Whitman. This article was printed in the Sept/Oct 2007 issue of the Domestic Rabbit Magazine.