01/05/2019
REPRODUCTIVE CYCLE OF RABBITS.
This is a very sensitive topic and we really encourage farmers to pay attention to their animals when it comes to mating. We shall provide a few tips on having some successful mating cycles in your rabbit farms.
Key factors to consider:
*Rabbit breeds of medium to large size are sexually mature at 4 to 4.5 months,(most breeds fall in this category namlely the new zealand white, California and others), giant breeds at 6 to 9 months, and small breeds (such as the Polish Dwarf and Dutch) at 3.5 to 4 months of age.
*The release of eggs in female rabbits is triggered by sexual in*******se, not by a cycle of hormones as in humans. This simply means for ovulation to occur in rabbits, the male has to first inject sperms and after a which the ovaries are released to meet the sperms. This ovulation process takes between 8-10 hours .
*For a successful mating, one should observe the male rabbit (buck) fall off the female. This is usually followed by the buck stumping it's feet on the cage floor. Farmers are advised to at least witness 2 or more falls of the buck before separating the animals
*After a successful mating session, the female rabbit (doe) is usually given some grass or pellets to keep it busy. This is intended to buy time so that it doesn't urinate the sperms in the next 8-10 hours.
*In precaution cases, does are re-mated after 10-12 hours so that if they urinated the sperms earlier on, the second mating ensures all the ovaries are fertilized after since ovulation will be completed by then.
*The gestation period of rabbits is 30-34 days from the time of conception. Please not that false pregnancies sometimes occur in these animals. The does prep themselves, shed fur and they end up not giving birth. In such cases the does usually either reabsorb the embryos into their bodies or they have miscarriages or abortion. It's a normal situation and it's usually due to change in environmental conditions or the feeding systems of the animals. Farmers have to simply remate their animals and prep for the next birth.
* A farmer should be able to check and feel the grape-sized foetus of the rabbits after 14 days. One can gently massage and feel grape sized particles below the hind legs of the animal THIS NEEDS A SKILLED PEROSNEL TO CHECK the animals as one can injure the animals' foetus if not properly handled. Another easier way is to take the weight of the animals after immediately after conception and 14 days after conception. A doe expecting to give birth should weigh more after 14 days. Keep in mind this is a rudmentary procedure assuming the rabbit isn't overfed on pellets.
* Avoid allowing ur rabbits used for breeding to gain alot of weight. Fat does have complications and disturb to get pregnant. Monitor your farms feeding schedules and avoiding feeding rabbits on only pellets. Balance it with dry grass.
* Always remember to put nest boxes in the doe cages between 26th-28th from the day of conception. A doe expecting to give birth will shed it's fur into these nest boxes and also draw some straws of grass into these nest boxes as a way to prepare itself to give birth.
Apply some of these tips if haven't applied them yet to ensure a proper reproductive cycle at your farms.
HAPPY FARMING!!!!
