Things to Note for Autumn Rabbit Breeding

1 Points for Autumn Rabbit Breeding

Points to Note for Autumn Rabbit Breeding

1. Pick a good mating time. A doe mated below about 25°C has higher conception and larger litters, so mate at cool morning and evening times. Also keep mating away from feeding time, or the buck may think the doe came to steal food and refuse. Mate during the doe’s heat, best in mid-to-late heat when conception is highest.

2. Get the first-mating age right. First mating at 5–6 months fits well: medium rabbits around 5.5 months, small around 5, large around 6.

3. Practice shows prime-age rabbits produce the strongest, most productive offspring. Older and young rabbits breed poorly and yield weaker young, so avoid mating old bucks and does; forbid breeding by older or under-age young rabbits.

4. Control buck mating frequency. A buck can mate any time, but long abstinence or too-frequent mating easily causes infertility or low fertility. A reasonable rate is about one mating a day; after two mating days, rest one before breeding again.

5. Keep body condition and nutrition balanced. Before the breeding window, hold the doe at a good condition to raise success and give the fetus enough nutrition after conception.

6. For a doe that will not cycle, let a buck chase and mount her to trigger heat; if that fails, add a little estrus powder to her feed, then use repeat or double mating to lift conception and litter size.

The above are the points for autumn rabbit breeding. To mate smoothly and raise litter size, do not skip the needed preparations.