- COUNTRY OF ORIGIN: France
- YEAR RECOGNIZED: 2015
- USES: Pet, show, meat
- WEIGHT: 10.5 pounds (4.8 kg) max., senior does
- BODY TYPE: Commercial
- FUR TYPE: Flyback; ARBA Commercial Normal Fur Standard
- COLORS: Silvered chocolate brown with longer, dark brown guard hairs and dark chocolate under colour; slightly darker muzzle, ears, and feet
THE ARGENTE BRUN IS THE MOST RECENT ADDITION to the ARBA roster of rabbit breeds, having been accepted in November, 2015, after a vetting process begun several years earlier. This is an American version, presented by Charmaine Wardrop of Washington state, of a breed that was first established in the late 1800s in France. Breeders in England imported the breed in the 1920s, but despite the attractiveness of the small, silvered-brown breed, it quickly lost favor and disappeared. The Brits re-engineered the breed in the early days of World War II, an effort led by H. D. Dowle, who mixed Crème d’Argentes, Argente Bleus, and Havanas in the breeding program. Later, the addition of brown Beverens into the bloodlines gave the breed longer fur and richer color. The American version of the Brun, sporting the characteristic brown coat, first appeared by chance, in a litter of Argente Champagnes in 2005. Breeders selectively bred that rabbit, and others of similar pelage, to create the American flavor of Argente Brun, a considerably larger bunny than its European forebears.In contrast to the much smaller Argente Brun of England (6 pounds [2.7 kg]), an American Argente Brun may exceed 10 pounds (4.5 kg). The breed standard ideal weight is between 9 and 10 pounds (4–4.5 kg).