Black Flemish Giant Photo from NFFGRB Flemish Giant Guide Book
Used with Permission from NFFGRB

The black Flemish giant has become increasingly hard to come by here in the U.S. and I can't really say what the selection is like elsewhere, but like all Flemish, it truly is a work of art.  One reason for the black's rarity is it's difficulty to breed good color onto a good type.  Like my friend always says "I raised 1000 blacks and blues, and I ate 999 of them".   That 1 that he didn't eat is the one we all search for, that ideal black.  A good black is hard to come by, but well worth it when you do.  Of course, it takes years of breeding, money into respectable lines and stock, and lots and lots of breeding.

A good black would be completely jet black all over the entire body with absolutely no fading, rusty coloring, frosting, white hairs, or white spots.  It's common for blacks to have white hairs scattering throughout the coloration, making it that much harder to breed.  Crossing blacks into agouti colors, and even steels can cause the poor black colors, but black is a very essential color when raising steels and can be a popular mix to richen blue and perhaps darken light grays.  It isn't recommended to cross into any other colors, but of course-many people will do it anyway.  The Flemish Giant demands a more strict pedigree than most breeds do.  If you are set on one particular color, do pay a lot of attention to the colors in the background.  Black is no exception.

When showing a black, you can be disqualified for white spots, white toenails, any other eye coloring than brown, excessive scattered white hairs, and faults that terribly detract from the animal.  It is extremely faulted for brassy coloration, scattered whites (not excessive), and fading.  White spots, and scattered white hairs can be caused from injury, breeding (does pulling fur), and genetics.  The likelihood for scattered whites IS GENETIC and HIGHLY UNDESIREABLE.  Frostiness, or fading is also genetic, and undesireable.  Maybe caused from mixing colors, whites and blues PERHAPS, or poor genetic backgrounds.  Brassy coloring can be caused from poor genetics, sandy or fawn backgrounds (??), and sun burn.  Take good care of these guys, they are one of the more "delicate" colors of the breed.

Don't get me wrong, despite all the hardships one may associate with a black, they are striking animals, and VERY worth the effort when you finally get that pay off. . .the perfect black.

GENETICS OF A BLACK:

aa B - C - D - E - en en

This is respectably the genes of a black. Based on the colors it produces you may be able to figure out more. If a black has white offspring you can assume "C c" and if it has blue offspring you can assume "D d". A black should not ever be able to produce sandy, light gray, or fawn unless bred to one of those colors or a white hiding them. It will also not produce steel unless bred to a steel or steel carrying rabbit (white).

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