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Rabbits are
the most capable livestock of propagation, giving multiple births of
multiple babies. How is the propagation of the stock parent rabbit
concerns the production level and economic profit. To increase the
propagation capability, which is often affected by unfair feeding and
management, it is suggested to take the following measures in the aspects
to be described.
1. Stock selection should be given to the female rabbit of good health,
high libido, good maternity and well developed genitalia. The stock baby
with over 4 pairs of mammillas, should come out from a birth of 3-5
babies. The female rabbit that gives less babies, low rate of
fecundation, not good maternity nor milk making can not be hybridized
for propagation. A
good domestic rabbit for propagation is 1 to 3 years old, and above the
age of 3 years it would be no good for giving babies, except for the
most excellent ones.
2. Daily management after stock selection is one of the most important
things for increasing the parent rabbit’s propagation including a
clean environment and dry, well ventilated and quiet shed. The critical
time is before and after hybridization, during which feed is composed of
grains to meet its nutrition demand so as to reduce embryo death and
abortion. It is not good to feed a single food for a long time, but it
would also cause less propagation if the rabbit is too fat. However,
damage due to nutrition problems can be reversed if appropriate feeding
is kept. Abortion or decrease of libido may be caused by even a sudden
noise, which makes rabbits in a panic.
3．Practice
demonstrates that the rabbit shed should be kept over 10 ℃ for
propagation, with the suitable temperature ranging from 15--25℃.
So, the fecundation rate is high and babies are more in spring and
autumn. But if to get a normal propagation in winter and early spring,
temperature control is a must, plus more fresh and green feed, to insure
the parent rabbit strong, for expecting 1-2 times of birth. The optimal
hybridization time is the middle and late period of oestrus, when the
rabbit pussy is wet, red and tumefied. That is a good time for the
rabbit to be mated and pregnant. There will be not a good result if
hybridization is too early or late. Even in a day, hybridization should
be done at a right time, morning or evening more appropriate in summer
and it is good at noon time in winter, when the rabbit is energetic.
4. The female rabbit ovulates after its first mating with the male, and
so within 8-10 hours second hybridization should be done, for the
purpose to make the female pregnant. That is a way to increase the rate
of fecundation and baby numbers. Another method is to make the female
rabbit hybridized with two male rabbits within an interval of less than
20-30 minutes. The way can raise the fecundation rate by 10-20% and have
1-3 more rabbit babies. Regarding the female rabbit without oestrus for
a long time, exudation of sex hormone is critical, and to solve the
problem it is necessary to make the female have more chance to play with
male rabbits.
5. One of the hot issues of meat rabbit raisers in the world is how to
realize a frequent propagation, which means a shorter time between
hybridization and birth time. According to overseas experiment,
hybridization is carried out 1.5-2 days after giving birth and the
female rabbit can give another birth just 3 days after the 28-day old
babies of the first birth were weaned. But it is not suitable for the
stock rabbit. Half frequent propagation means that hybridization is to
be done 12-15 days after birth and that can increase birth by 3-4 times
a year or reduce the interval between births by 8-10 days.
6.
Disease prevention is another important factor affecting propagation, and
so it is necessary to take measures to keep away from catching cold,
acarid and bacilli diseases. If a rabbit is found ill it should be closed
off and treated medically.
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