THE OCCURRENCE OF "PEANUTS"

Jersey Woolies (along with other small breeds like Netherland Dwarfs, Holland Lops, etc.) are a "dwarf" breed. That means that they carry the "dwarfing" gene.

Showable Jerseys (adults under 3.5 pounds) carry one dwarfing gene and one gene for normal size. Non-dwarf Jerseys, like bigger brood does, do not carry the dwarfing gene at all.

It is not uncommon in a litter of Jerseys to find one or more babies which are abnormally small because they have inherited two dwarfing genes, and are "double-dwarfs", so to say. These are what breeders call "peanuts". Statistically, 25% of any litter from one genetic dwarf to another genetic dwarf will result in peanuts. A litter resulting from one genetic dwarf to a non-dwarf (like a bigger brood doe) should never result in peanuts.

Below:  Two peanuts on the left and normal sized littermate

Peanuts are obviously different from the other babies in a litter. They will be much smaller in size, have domed heads, bulging eyes, thick necks and weak, thin hindquarters. They are not able to process milk, and so even though they may try to nurse they will eventually starve and die within a few days.

Most breeders remove any peanuts from a litter upon first inspection and dispose of them humanely, since there is absolutely no way to save them. Their presence may endanger the rest of the litter when they finally do die, if the body is not removed promptly.