Rabbit farming is a new and expanding industry in Australia, but there has been little opportunity for selective breeding programs aimed at improving production. CSIRO's Crusader breeding program aims to improve production by selectively breeding rabbits for improved reproductive and growth traits. This requires detailed recording of individual rabbit's pedigrees and 'estimated breeding values' for certain traits. Scientists are also developing a simpler strategy for farmers to select and breed better rabbits. In time, rabbits will be benchmarked across industry and scientific breeding programs.