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Rabbit Breeding Management: Selection, Estrus & Mating
Rabbit breeding management involves the systematic selection of breeding stock, identification of estrus, mating, and management of reproduction to achieve optimum reproductive performance. An appropriate breeding system may be selected based on the production objectives, nutritional status, environmental conditions, and management practices of the rabbitry.
Rabbit production may follow extensive, semi-intensive, or intensive reproduction systems depending on the desired breeding rate and available management resources.
Extensive Reproduction
Utilizing the maternal instinct involves allowing the doe to nurse her young for 5 to 6 weeks and rebreeding soon after weaning. Does are therefore mated once every 2½ months. This method is best suited for tropical countries.
Semi-Intensive Reproduction
The doe is bred 10 to 20 days after kindling, and the young are weaned by the 4th to 5th week.
Intensive Reproduction
The doe is bred immediately after kindling, and the young are weaned by the 4th week.
Choosing the Reproduction Rate
Semi-intensive and intensive reproduction systems are only suitable where does receive the right quantity and quality of feed. If these conditions are not met, the does will usually accept the male but may abort. In European rabbitries, one doe can produce 50-60 weaned young annually through intensive reproduction.
At the same technological level, 45-55 rabbits can be produced in a semi-intensive reproduction system. In a wet tropical climate, with balanced feeding, it is possible for a doe to produce 40-50 weaned young per year through a combination of intensive and semi-intensive reproduction rates.
Using the extensive rate, the best breeders may obtain 30-35 weaned young per doe per year.
Selection for Breeding
When rabbits reach 4 to 5 months of age, future breeding stock can be selected. While selecting breeding stock, the following points should be considered.
- Select the heaviest animal, but take into account any differences in age.
- The rabbit should be selected from the largest litter.
- Healthy animals should be selected for breeding purposes. A healthy rabbit will have normal eating and drinking habits. It is always alert and curious about its surroundings. Similarly, a healthy rabbit will groom its body regularly, and its fur will be smooth and shiny.
- Males should be selected on the basis of the above criteria, and in addition, they should be checked to confirm that each has two testicles in the scrotum. The testicles descend from the body cavity into the scrotum at around 12 weeks.
- Young breeding does should be selected carefully. They should have good commercial characteristics based on records.
- The doe must have at least eight teats so that she can properly nurse her young.
- Bucks and does should not be overweight and should be selected when they achieve a body weight of 2 kg.
Estrous Cycle
Unlike many other animals, rabbits do not have an estrous cycle with regular periods of heat. They are induced ovulators. A female rabbit is therefore considered to be in heat when she accepts mating and in diestrus when she refuses.
A red vulva is a strong indication of heat. A doe in heat assumes a characteristic posture called “lordosis,” with the back arched downward and the hindquarters raised. A doe in diestrus tends to crouch in a corner of the cage or exhibit aggression toward the buck.
Estrus Signs
- Restlessness
- Chin rubbing
- Reduced feed intake
- Congested and red vulva
- Swollen and moist vulva
- Allows the male to mate/mount
Mating Management
- At the time of mating, the female should be transferred to the male’s cage. Mating is always performed in the buck’s cage to avoid fighting.
- Before transferring the female to the buck’s cage, she should be examined for any respiratory disease.
- Mating should be performed during the coolest part of the day, preferably in the early morning or late evening.
- After successful mating, the male usually produces a typical cry and falls to one side of the doe.
- Soon after accepting the male, the doe should be returned to her cage.
- A buck should not be used more than 3 to 4 days per week or more than 2 to 3 times per day. The ratio of bucks to does is 1:10.
- Reaching 70% of adult body weight is an ideal criterion for mating.
