Care and management of rabbits by Sherlock Chesla Clella 1895-

Author:Sherlock, Chesla Clella, 1895-
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Tags: Rabbits
Publisher: Philadelphia, David McKay Co
Published: 1920-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

A Good Utility Beebding Doe. New Zealand Red.

Belgian Habe Doe Seven Months Old. Ready to breed.

BREEDING

In breeding rabbits, always take the doe to the buck's hutch and put her inside. If she does not accept service, but fights or runs and squeals, take her out and try her again next day. If the doe proves persistent over a long period of, time, it is well to dispose of her for meat stock, as she certainly will not prove to be a desirable breeder.

The doe and buck should be about the same age. By that I mean do not breed excessively young does to old bucks, although you will find some people advocating breeding old bucks to young does and young budcs to old does. There may be something to be gained by this in some instances, but it is far better to breed animals in their prime. In the long run you will get better results from the mating.

As soon as the doe has accepted service, remove her to her own hutch and let her alone.

168 CARE AND MANAGEMENT OF RABBITts

She should be kept quiet and handled according to the suggestKins set out elsewhere. There is nothing to be gained by permitting the doe to have more than one service. I have found that just as large litters come from a single service as from several.

It is best to always watch your does when in the buck's hutch, for then you know for sure as to whether service has been had or not. Some breeders put the doe in the buck's hutch at night and take her out in the morning. This is not only a poor policy but entirely unnecessary. You will soon have a poor buck on your hands if you follow this policy very long.

Haphazard breeding is the reason why so many blood lines constantly dwindle out and why so many breeders of live stock are constantly on the down-hill side of business success. You must have some plan of breeding and follow it out intelligently if you are to succeed.

The old statement that "like begets like"

was never truer than in breeding rabbits. You will get just exactly what you have to start with, unless you have a system of breeding which makes it possible to advance a step at a time at least.

The usual system of breeding is what is known as cross-breeding. By that we mean that unrelated animals are bred together each generation. This system has just one advantage and that is that it keeps up the constitutional vigor and stamina of the offspring to a remarkable degree. There certainly is no danger of your stock "running out," under this system.

But it has its disadvantages as well. It does not preserve the other qualities in the offspring such as type, color, characteristics and station. It merely increases constitutional vigor. It also has the disadvantage of making it necessary to get new males each mating or season. That is not only expensive and troublesome but oftentimes a serious problem for the small breeder.

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