Flemish Giant Rabbit

The largest breed of domestic rabbit, originating in Flanders and possibly bred as early as the sixteenth century, though the first authentic records of the breed date from around 1860 and its breed standards were first written in 1893. It is the ancestor of the Belgian Hare and Continental Giant rabbit breeds, and was imported to America in efforts to breed larger rabbits for meat, becoming popular at rabbit shows for its large size and varying colors; it has been promoted by the National Federation of Flemish Giant Rabbit Breeders since the club's formation in 1915. Flemish Giants are typically docile pets, often raised for meat, and are commonly used in 4-H programs to teach children responsibility.