Champagne Argent Rabbit

The Argente Champagne, the oldest and largest of the four Argente varieties, is one of the oldest Fur breeds. It originate din France, where very many years ago it was bred for its fur,particularly in the Champagne area. During the early's sales of these pelts were held in France and prices up to site equivalent.So per pelt were obtained. The Argente was introduced into England during gig when it became very popular. The undercook of the fur is a darkroom, blue, for the Argente Champagne is genetically a black The silvering, which appears at the first moult is due to loss of pigment in the tips of the undercoat, the guard hair sing untargeted and remaining black. The physiological action pi (dining the loss of the pigment in the hair fibres disunion>pearly understood. The Champagne is the largest of the,¦Mir? men, weighing approximately eight lb., and is certainly sits wont satisfactory from a pelt production point of view, although the pelts have never been greatly sought after by the furrier in this country.
The Argente Bleu is smaller than the Champagne, weighing about six lb. The undercook of the fur is lavender blue,for the variety is genetically a blue rabbit (that is a dilute black), and the breed carries of course, the same silvering factors as all the Argente's.

The Argente Bruno is very similar in type and weight to the Argente Bleu. It was introduced into England in the early1920's from the Continent where it had been bred for many years. It made little progress and probably became extinct,but was recreated by H. D. H. Dow le during 1939-41. By crossing Argente Creamers (which genetically arc silvered yellows)with Argente Bleu's, silvered Agoutis were produced. These were mated with normal coated Havana rabbits and produced silvered blacks (known previously as Argente Noir) which when mated amongst themselves gave Argente Runs. Argente are of course silvered browns. At a later stage browbeater were introduced to improve the length and color the coat.

The last variety is the Argente Creame. This variety is the smallest of the group, weighing approximately five pounds,and is a silvered yellow, the undercook being orange, tropical creamy white, the whole interspersed with longer orange hairs.