The British Rabbit Council now recognises five colours of argente; Bleu, Brun, Creme, Champagne and Noir. Note the names are all French as this is where the breed originated from. The American Rabbit Breeders Association only recognises Creme and Champagne. Argente babies are born a solid colour and develop silvering as they age. Their colour can be very patchy when they are young, they usually begin to show their adult colour at 4 months old. The Argente was one of France's oldest breed of fancy rabbit and is quite rare now in the UK. The Argente also has a lovely nature and they make great pets!
[edit] Argente Bleu
- Ring Size C
Type - 30
Coat - 30
Colour - 30
Evenness - 10
TOTAL - 100
1)TYPE: Compact and fairly cobby body, short neck, markedly broad and rounded loins with wide developed hind quarters. Front legs straight, short and fine bone. Ears short, proportionate in breadth, rounded and carried erect. Weight approximately kg. 2.72 (6 lb)
2)COAT: Very dense, glossy, silky and lying close to the body. Desired length between 1.9 cm - 2.54 cm (3/4ins - 1ins)
3)COLOUR: Undercolour lavender blue, body colour bluish white, the whole evenly and moderately interspersed with longer dark blue hairs to give a distinct bluish effect when viewed from a distance. Eyes bold and blue, toenails coloured.
4)EVENNESS: In adults the part forming the pelt and extremities to be of one shade throughout. For under five months exhibits any Lavender blue self colouring remaining on the head, ears, chest, nape and belly should not be penalised as moult.
FAULTS: Dark or too long ears, too dark muzzle, washy undercolour. Creamy or yellow tint most noticeable around the neck and cheeks. Large paunch, bony or angular frame. Fur harsh, thin, wooly or too short. Dewlaps in either sex a serious fault. White topped or too dark exhibits to be discouraged. White toenails a minor fault. Lack of condition.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: White patches, putty noses, drooping ears, crooked legs and any form or disease or ill health.
[edit] Argente Brun
- Ring Size C
Type - 30
Coat - 30
Colour - 30
Evenness - 10
TOTAL - 100
1)TYPE: Compact and fairly cobby body, short neck, markedly broad and rounded loins with wide developed hind quarters. Front legs straight, short and fine bone. Ears short, proportionate in breadth, rounded and carried erect. Weight approximately kg. 2.72 (6 lb)
2)COAT: Very dense, glossy, silky and lying close to the body. Desired length between 1.9 cm - 2.54 cm (3/4ins - 1ins)
3)COLOUR: Undercolour as deep brown as possible, body colour brownish white, the whole evenly and moderately interspersed with longer dark brown hairs to give a distinct brownish effect when viewed from a distance. Eyes bold and brown, toenails coloured.
4)EVENNESS: In adults the part forming the pelt and extremities to be of one shade throughout. For under five months exhibits any Lavender blue self colouring remaining on the head, ears, chest, nape and belly should not be penalised as moult.
FAULTS: Dark or too long ears, too dark muzzle, washy undercolour. Creamy or yellow tint most noticeable around the neck and cheeks. Large paunch, bony or angular frame. Fur harsh, thin, wooly or too short. Dewlaps in either sex a serious fault. White topped or too dark exhibits to be discouraged. White toenails a minor fault. Lack of condition.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: White patches, putty noses, drooping ears, crooked legs, blue undercolour and any form or disease or ill health.
[edit] Argente Creme
- Ring Size B
Type - 30
Coat - 30
Colour - 30
Evenness - 10
TOTAL - 100
1)TYPE: Small and neat with well developed hind quarters and slightly arched back, but at the same time avoiding extremes of cobbiness or raciness. Head broad. Front legs straight, short and fine in bone. Ears short, proportionate in breadth, moderately rounded and carried erect. Weight approximately kg 2.26 (5 lb)
2)COAT: Very dense, glossy, silky and lying close to the body. Desired length between 1.9 cm - 2.54 cm (3/4ins - 1ins)
3)COLOUR: Undercolour orange to go down as far as possible, body colour creamy white, the whole evenly and moderately interspersed with longer orange hairs to give a distinct creamy effect when viewed from a distance. White underbelly to be permissible but a coloured underbelly to be encouraged. Eyes bold and dark brown, toenails horn coloured.
4)EVENNESS: In adults the part forming the pelt and extremities to be of one shade throughout. For under five months exhibits any orange self colouring remaining on the head, ears, chest, nape and belly should not be penalised as moult
FAULTS: Dark or too long ears, too dark muzzle, washy undercolour. Creamy or yellow tint most noticeable around the neck and cheeks. Large paunch, bony or angular frame. Fur harsh, thin, wooly or too short. Dewlaps in either sex a serious fault. White topped or too dark exhibits to be discouraged. White toe nails a minor fault. Light soiling of the feet, ears and genital organs, bare pads, fur slightly soiled or matted, long toe nails lack of vitality.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: White patches, putty noses, drooping ears, crooked legs and any form or disease or ill health.
[edit] Argente Champagne
- Ring Size G
Type - 30
Coat - 30
Colour - 30
Evenness - 10
TOTAL - 100
1)TYPE: Moderate length of body, with well developed hind quarters and slightly arched back, avoiding extremes of cobbiness or raciness.Head broad and rather long with round skull. Front legs straight, of medium length, and fine in bone. Ears carried close together, medium length, slightly rounded at tips and carried erect.No dewlaps in bucks, excessive in does a fault. Weight approximately kg3.62 (8 lb)
2)COAT: Not less than 2.54cms(1 inch) in length, dense, silky, glossy and lying loose or open rather than close to the body.
3)COLOUR: Undercolour dark slate blue, body colour bluish white, the whole evenly and moderately interspersed with longer jet black hairs to give an old silver effect when viewed from a distance. Eyes brown, toe-nails coloured.
4)EVENNESS: In adults the part forming the pelt and extremities to be of one shade throughout., but the nose and muzzle as far as the smellers may be of a slightly darker shade. For under five months exhibits any black self colouring remaining on the head, ears, chest, nape and belly should not be penalised as moult.
FAULTS: Dark ears, creamy or yellow tint most noticeable around the neck and cheeks. Large paunch, bony or angular frame. Fur harsh, thin, wooly or too short. Dewlaps in either sex a serious fault. White topped or too dark exhibits to be discouraged. White toe-nails a minor fault. Lack of condition.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: White patches, putty noses, drooping ears, crooked legs and any form or disease or ill health.
[edit] Argente Noir
- Ring Size C
Type - 30
Coat - 30
Colour - 30
Evenness - 10
TOTAL - 100
1)TYPE: Compact and fairly cobby body, short neck, markedly broad and rounded loins with wide developed hind quarters. Front legs straight, short and fine bone. Ears short, proportionate in breadth, rounded and carried erect. Weight approximately kg. 2.72 (6 lb)
2)COAT: Very dense, glossy, silky and lying close to the body. Desired length between 1.9 cm - 2.54 cm (3/4ins - 1ins)
3)COLOUR: Undercolour deep slate blue, body colour greyish white, the whole evenly and moderately interspersed with longer jet black hairs to give a disstinct old silver effect when viewed from a distance. Eyes bold and brown, toe-nails coloured.
4)EVENNESS: In adults the part forming the pelt and extremities to be of one shade throughout. For under five months exhibits any Lavender blue self colouring remaining on the head, ears, chest, nape and belly should not be penalised as moult.
FAULTS: Dark or too long ears, too dark muzzle, washy undercolour. Creamy or yellow tint most noticeable around the neck and cheeks. Large paunch, bony or angular frame. Fur harsh, thin, wooly or too short. Dewlaps in either sex a serious fault. White topped or too dark exhibits to be discouraged. White toenails a minor fault. Lack of condition.
DISQUALIFICATIONS: White patches, putty noses, drooping ears, crooked legs and any form or disease or ill health.
[edit] References
