When a breeder wants to create a new breed by out crossing 2 different breeds, they normally start with the term Hybrid. Just like a Lion crossed with a Tiger would give you a Liger hybrid. For example, if we cross a Holland Lop to a Netherland Dwarf, that will produce a HYBRID.
F1 denotes breeding a purebred to another breed. The F1 specimen must have basic manifestation of the intended breed.
F2 denotes breeding a F1 to a purebred or another hybrid that is F1 or F2.
F3 denotes breeding a F2 to a purebred or another hybrid that is F2 or F3.
F4 is also known as purebred that may be offspring from breeding an F3 to a purebred or another F3. This will produce 4 generations of the intended breed on the pedigree.
Purebred is a term given to rabbits that conform to the basic requirements/standards laid down for a particular breed and with 4 generations of the breed occurrences on the pedigree.
Anyone want to try producing “teacup” Holland Lops by breeding to Netherland Dwarfs? Let’s try out an example to see if my explanation is accurate. Let’s say I have a Holland Lop I call HL1 and a Netherland Dwarf I call ND1.
1) HL1 + ND1 = F1 (Hybrid)
2) F1 + HL1 = F2
3) F2 + HL1 or F2 + F2(from another litter) = F3
4) F3 + Hl1 or F3 + F3(from another litter) = F4
I think I got it right there. What say you?
Tru-Luv Rabbitry: Quality Holland Lops in Malaysia 