So what is the Vienna gene? What are the problems breeding Vienna genes?

The Vienna gene is the gene that is responsible for blue eyes, and white spots on a solid coat.

A completely white rabbit with blue eyes is called a Blue-Eyed-White, or BEW for short. This type of rabbit has the Vienna genotype “vv.” This IS a showable color.

Next up is VM, which means that your rabbit has a Vienna mark. The genotype for this Vv. This often presents as something as small as a white toenail, small spot of white on head, white paws, or extreme white stripes/spots on a base color. Any of those is NOT a showable color.

VC is a Veinna carrier. The genotype for this is Vv, same as Vienna Marked. This will look like a “Normal rabbit(VV)”, but carries the Vienna gene. Thus its offspring have the opportunity to become Vienna marked.(VM) This genotype is showable.

Any other rabbit is VV which means it carries no Vienna gene. You may also hear this refered to as a “Normal Rabbit.” This genotype includes brokens that do not have Vienna in their backround. This is a showable color.

Breeding vienna rabbits is tricky, because once you breed vienna (even if it was a vienna carrier) into a non-vienna line, you have no assurence that a baby VM won’t pop up generations later. To breed a BEW you need two vienna carriers, either both BEWs, a BEW and a VM or VC, or a combo of VC/VM. The fastest way of getting a BEW is to breed BEW with BEW. This results in a litter that is 100% BEW. The drawbacks of this are mainly related to type as BEWs are a very undeveloped viarity.