The American Blue rabbit orginally comes from Pasadena, California, developed and introduced by Lewis H. Salisbury in 1917. Like many American people, the American breed rabbit is a combination of immigrants welded together by blood to become a distinctly different and American creation. At least three different breeds of rabbit were used. The American White variety was introduced in 1925.

 

But, we can see the heritage of this rabbit when we look at it: we see the Flemish, the Vienna, and the Imperial in the mandolin shaped American. This unique shape is shared in the U.S. by the Beveren, English Lop, Flemish Giant and the Giant Chinchilla. Before the European War (WWI), the American Blue was known as the German Blue, but was re-named after the war, just like many immigrants who naturalized here.

 

Intended as a meat and fur rabbit, the American standard calls for bucks to weigh 9 - 11 lbs and does to weigh 10 - 12 lbs at senior weight. Long in body, topline starting behind the shoulder, the topline rises high over the hindquarter and down again, with a wide meaty loin.

 

Since the development of compact and commercial type rabbits like the New Zealand and Californians, the American breed has lost its position as a leader and is now completely ignored by the commercial market. Currently there are a small number of faithful breeders keeping this American original alive.

 

By the standards of the American Livestock Breeds Conservancy, this breed has been rated as "threatened" for potential loss (extinction). The Blue Imperial is already extinct. The Vienna Blue is gone from the U.S. and hard to find in Germany. We encourage breeders to take on the American Blue and White as a heritage animal, to preserve this breed that is unique to our national history and culture.

 

The American rabbit is unique and restricted to North America. The American has since become the most rare of rabbit breeds in America.

Americans are large rabbits with mature bucks weighing 9 to 11 pounds and does at 10 to 12 pounds. They are a hardy breed, docile in nature, produce large litters and are typically good mothers. Fryers make marketable weight fairly quickly and are easily kept on wire bottom hutches. The blue variety is the deepest blue color of any of the recognized breeds in America.