Rabbit Rules and Regulations
REFER TO JR. FAIR SCHEDULE FOR TIME & DATE
Rabbit Project Enrollment Numbers:
#225- Breeding (single doe and doe & litter) #226- Market #227- Pet
Rabbit Resource Handbook: #228R- Reference book for all rabbit projects. One time
purchase- resource book may be shared amongst family members.
GENERAL RULES:
1. All breeding rabbits, pet rabbits, does of market rabbit projects and does of doe and litter projects must be
in the 4-H member’s possession and continual care by May 1.
2. All rabbit project members must submit a tattoo form for all rabbit projects on or before the rabbit
tattooing date in July (see pre-fair schedule for exact date). This does not include pet rabbits.
3. Each rabbit may only be shown in one category (i.e. pet, market, breeding/doe and litter) per project year.
Does may be shown as a breeding rabbit OR as part of a doe and litter if the 4-H’er is enrolled in both
projects. Rabbits cannot be shown in more than one category within the same project year. The 4-H
member must be enrolled in the correct project number (see above) on their enrollment form in order to
exhibit and compete in that project. 4-H’ers may enroll in more than one project number per year (with
different rabbits).
4. Pet rabbits are not exhibited at the fair, but are judged at the Small Animal Show in July (see pre-fair
schedule for exact date). All other rabbit projects are exhibited at the Scioto County Fair. The County Fair
rabbit judging will be on Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. 4-H members must be present for any judging activities.
5. All rabbit projects being exhibited at the fair must be checked in between 9:00 a.m. and 12:00 noon or
5:00 p.m. and 8:00 p.m. Sunday, before the fair. At fair check-in, rabbits will be classed by age, sex,
breed, and variety. 4-H’ers must bring only those shown (i.e. meat pen of 3). Meat pens must be checked
in and penned prior to being weighed on Sunday at 6:00 p.m.
6. No 4-H Junior Fair rabbits will be released until midnight Friday of the fair. All rabbits being removed
must check out with barn superintendent. Market rabbit pens not placing to sell are NO exception.
Rabbits not removed by 6:00 a.m. Saturday morning, must stay until 12:00 midnight Saturday night. All
rabbits must be removed the 12:00 noon on Sunday. .
7. 4-H members are responsible for carrying their rabbits to and from the judging table on show day.
Exhibitors, only, must show rabbits at the judging table. If assistance is needed, only another Scioto
County 4-H member may help.
8. ADULTS WILL NOT BE PERMITTED IN THE AISLE AREA. During show day, the aisles will be
roped off allowing only exhibitors to handle the rabbits.
9. All 4-H members are encouraged to show in showmanship. Sign-up sheets for showmanship will be
posted Monday at the fair. Classes are divided: Junior, 8-11 years of age; Intermediate, 12-14 years of
age; and Senior, 15-18 years of age. All ages are as of January 1 of the current year. The winner of
Senior Showmanship is eligible to show in the Showman of Showmen Contest, Friday of the fair, 6:00
p.m. in the Livestock Show Arena. Members must show their own project animal in all classes.
10. The Fair Board will furnish coops, water, feed, and cups.
11. The care of animals while at the fair is the responsibility of the 4-H member. If a 4-H’er cannot be there
all of the time they should make arrangements with their advisor or another 4-H member to care for their
animal.
12. 4-H members must clean their own pens. Straw will be provided. Pens must be cleaned daily, before
10:00 a.m. or after 9:00 p.m. Premiums will be withheld and animals will be removed from the
fairgrounds if pens and animals are not properly cared for. (See General 4-H Market & Breeding Animal
rules.)
13. If approved by the barn superintendent, exhibitors may only have one fan per exhibit.
14. 4-H members may show all three rabbit projects provided they enroll in these projects by set deadlines,
meet the animal project requirements and any other requirements listed. 4-H’ers must complete the
appropriate project record book for each project.
15. Refer to "Jr. Fair Livestock Special Rules & Regulations" and "General 4-H Breeding and Market Animal
Rules for other rules pertaining to these projects.
BREEDING RABBIT RULES:
1. Single Doe(s) and/or Buck – The project can include a minimum of one purebred doe or a trio of two
purebred does and one purebred buck. Members must have their project in their possession by May 1.
4-H’ers may exhibit and show at fair either one purebred buck or one purebred doe. 4-H’ers must
complete the appropriate project record book.
2. Doe and Litter – The litter must not be less than 5 weeks of age and not more than 7 weeks of age as of
Fair check-in. The purebred doe should raise at least two or more litters and complete the appropriate
project record book. Member must have doe in possession by May 1. 4-H member must bring doe and
litter to fair. They will be judged in pens, with 4-H member at pen during judging.
3. All doe and litter projects must attend Quality Assurance.
4. All breeding rabbits must be tattooed on or before the published deadline in the pre-fair schedule. In the
Doe and Litter project, up to two (2) does (and their respective litters) may be tattooed by the county
rabbit tattoo event. Litters must be tattooed before coming to fair. Only one doe (and her respective
litter) may be exhibited at the fair. Litters cannot be combined.
5. The order of show for breed classes will be posted Monday night of the fair.
6. Breeding rabbits, including doe and litter, will be placed first through fifth by classes according to
ARBA standards.
7. Single Rabbit and Doe and Litter projects will be divided into fancy and commercial classes.
8. Members are requested that their projects be purebred. Breed classes will be divided by breed. There
will be no mixed breed class. Should there be any mixed breed rabbits entered in breed classes, they
will show last and be graded only by the judge and member will receive either an A, B, or C ribbon.
They will not be eligible for any other award.
MARKET RABBIT RULES:
1. Market Rabbit Class – 4-H members must raise their meat pen-of-three from one doe’s litter. Members
must own the doe that produces this litter and she must be in their possession by May 1 of the current
project year. Market rabbits must meet all ownership, age (no more than 70 days old at fair check-in)
and weight requirements (3.5 – 5.5 lbs each at fair) defined for this project.
2. All meat pen rabbits must be tattooed and registered at the July (see pre-fair schedule for exact date)
county tattoo event. Only 4-H’ers who are properly enrolled and whose animals are tattooed on this
date will be eligible for exhibition and competition at the fair. Member’s entire litter may be tattooed
and registered. Three must be selected for the fair prior to the fair weigh-in.
3. 4-H members can only bring a pen-of-three selected from one identified litter to the fair. Selection must
be made at home. Litters cannot be combined.
4. All meat pens will be weighed on Sunday of the fair, 6:00 p.m. at the fairgrounds.
5. 4-H members may identify and tattoo up to two (2) litters (of no more than twelve rabbit’s total) for the
meat pen project. Rabbits identified as a litter must be exclusively from a doe that the member owns.
Only one meat pen of three can be exhibited at the fair. The exhibited meat pen of three must be from
one of the two identified litters. Litters cannot be combined and shown as one meat pen.
6. A meat pen consists of three rabbits from the same litter, identical in size, weight, appearance and age;
not to exceed 70 days of age at fair check-in. Each meat pen rabbit must weigh between 3.5 and 5.5
pounds. Only meat rabbits meeting these weight requirements will be eligible to show.
7. Meat pens not placing to sell may not be removed until midnight, Friday of the fair (see general specie
rules). They must be checked out with the barn superintendent. If not removed by 6:00 a.m. Saturday,
they cannot be removed until 12:00 midnight on Saturday.
8. The Market Poultry and Rabbit Sale will be held Saturday of the fair, 11:00 a.m. at the Livestock Arena.
The order of sale will be rotated on a yearly basis, consult the fair schedule for the exact sale order.
9. 4-H members selling animals are not permitted to wear any type of advertisement and/or promotional
items (i.e. hats, t-shirts, etc.) or inappropriate clothing (i.e. vulgar pictures and/or words, revealing
apparel, etc.), during the sale. Members wearing such apparel will be asked to change if parents and advisors do not monitor attire appropriately.
10. The grand champion and reserve champion pen will sell first and second respectively. The next thirty
three (33) meat pens will sell in the order as placed by the judge.
11. ALL MEAT PENS OF RABBITS PARTICIPATING IN THE SALE ARE TERMINAL. Immediately
following the sale the animals will be loaded and taken to a processing facility. No animals will be
returned to the barn. All animals will be processed. NO LIVE ANIMALS WILL BE RETURNED TO
ANYONE.
12. A commission will be deducted from each 4-H member’s sale check to cover sale and promotional costs.
13. 4-H members must bring a stamped thank-you note addressed to their buyer to the Extension office
during or after the fair, before they will receive their sale check. If they utilize the Thank You Booth at
the Fair they must be sure to sign in their name and buyer information.
CLASSES:
1. Fancy Doe and Litter
2. Commercial Doe and Litter
3. Market Rabbits
4. Fancy Doe & Buck
5. Commercial Doe & Buck
6. Senior Showmanship (15-18 years)
7. Intermediate Showmanship (12-14 years)
8. Junior Showmanship (8-11 years)
SKILLATHON and OUTSTANDING EXHIBITOR
All livestock project members are encouraged to participate in the livestock skillathon. Specific date
information is located on the pre-fair schedule.
One Outstanding Exhibitor will be selected in each specie area each year. This person is selected based upon
their scores in the skillathon contest, showmanship and a project class. Therefore, 4-H’ers must participate in
all of these events in order to compete for this award.
For complete rules, dates and guidelines on these programs, refer to the Educational Livestock Event and
Activities section of the county project requirements