I’ve had a few conversations lately about how people decide who stays and who goes, so I figured I’d share how I handle culling and see how others approach it too—because this is one of those topics where goals really matter. For me, everything gets scored early. I try to take emotion out of it and look at structure, growth, and what the breed is actually supposed to do. In general, does can stay if they’re Quality 1 or Quality 2. Bucks have to be Quality 1 or truly exceptional type, and I’ll only keep a Q2 buck on certain colors if there’s a real reason. Everything else gets sold or processed. Simple, even if it’s not always easy. Where it gets more interesting is growth expectations, because I don’t use the same yardstick for every breed. With New Zealands, they’re a big commercial breed. Adults need to land in that 9.5–12 lb range, so I expect kits to show it early. If they aren’t hitting about 3.5 lb by 8 weeks, they don’t stay. With Senita, I’m intentionally pushing size. I want 10 lb minimum adults, preferably 11+, so my expectations are higher. 4 lb at 8 weeks is my floor, but what I really like to see is 5–6 lb and a body that says “I’m going to be big.” Harlequins get a little more grace, because they’re a smaller breed overall. Since they top out around 7–9 lb, I can live with around 3 lb at 8 weeks if the type and color are really correct. Structure still matters, but I’m not asking them to grow like a commercial rabbit. Across the board, some things are still instant deal-breakers for me: narrow frames, pinched hips, V feet, undercut bodies. Color never saves bad structure. Ever. That said—this is just my system, built around meat, commercial type, and breed development. I’m curious how others handle it: Do wool breeders prioritize fleece quality over early growth? How much weight do lop breeders put on ear length or ear carriage when deciding who stays? Are you culling hard at 8 weeks, or giving longer-maturing lines more time? What traits are non-negotiable in your program?

Cherry Pie RI3R3 kindled this morning with four fat babies, and she’s doting on them beautifully. They’re sired by the Buck from Bill Theising , M1 —colors already look excellent, so I’ve got high hopes for these as juniors this spring.

I'll us about your program goals!