New Zealand rabbit

[1][2] New Zealand rabbits have a broad, muscular, and deep body of medium length, with well-rounded haunches.

Fur is of normal length and "flyback,"[4] which means that when brushed in the wrong direction, it immediately returns to the original position.

The American Rabbit Breeders Association (ARBA) has recognized blue New Zealands since late 2016.

[4] New Zealand rabbits were likely developed in California from a mix of breeds, possibly including Belgian hares[9] and Flemish giants.

The lower grades are used to make felt hats and glove linings ("Commercial Rabbit Raising").

New Zealand rabbits are a common choice for laboratory testing because of their docility and good health.

This reaction allows them to be used at pharmaceutical laboratories, the U.S. Public Health building, cancer research centers, and university hospitals.

[13] The effects of skin creams, cosmetics, special diets, and food additives have also been tested on New Zealand rabbits.

The doe will pull fur from her abdomen and dewlap and along with hay or other materials provided she will create a nest.

At the age of three to four weeks their mother will begin to wean them off milk, meanwhile the kits will switch to eating hay and pellets.

In the wild it is a defensive mechanism to remove all blood and dead tissue from the nesting area to avoid detection by predators.

They do in some cases act as babysitters and a heat source for the young kits in group settings known as a colony.