Detailed profile of this breed: origin, year of creation, recognised varieties and official approvals.
Breed summary
The Burgundy Fawn is a medium-to-large rabbit breed traditionally kept for meat and as a dual-purpose breed. It is characterised by a warm, rich fawn-to-burgundy coat, compact and muscular body, and generally calm temperament. Adults typically weigh in a practical range (commonly reported around 3.5–5.0 kg), and does regularly wean litters in the order of about 6–8 kits. The breed is appreciated for good feed conversion, solid carcass conformation and a dense, short coat that presents well for both producers and breeders.
Detailed origin
The Burgundy Fawn originates from the Burgundy (Bourgogne) region of France and was developed by local breeders selecting animals for meat qualities and a distinctive fawn/bronze colour. Selection was done in small-scale farm contexts rather than in a single laboratory programme; the result is a locally adapted strain shaped by regional preferences and practical production goals. The breed’s history is regional and artisanal rather than the product of a single documented cross; it became known through French breeder circles and national rabbit-keeping associations. Because its development was incremental and local, precise foundation crosses are not exhaustively documented in the public record.
Detailed description
Conformation: the Burgundy Fawn shows a compact, muscular frame with a broad back and well-developed hindquarters, qualities valued for meat production. Head and shoulders are proportionate and robust rather than fine-boned. Coat and colour: the coat is short, dense and glossy; base colour ranges from warm fawn to deep burgundy with subtle ticking or darker guard hairs that give depth to the shade—this evenness of colour across the body is a breed characteristic. Reproduction and growth: gestation period follows the general rabbit norm (about 31 days), with typical litter sizes around 6–8 kits; growth to slaughter/market weight is generally achieved within 8–12 weeks depending on feeding and management. Management notes: the breed adapts well to conventional housing and outdoor systems, tolerates moderate climatic variation, and benefits from balanced diets to express its feed-to-meat efficiency. As with any traditional breed, selection pressure for modern show standards or intensive production can change conformation over generations.