RABBIT FARMING

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20956, 9 September 1933, Page 9

RABBIT FARMING

* THE ART OF BREEDING [By Rex.] [This column Mill apjienr veekl.v. ami in it all matters of interest to breeders of industrial rabbits will be diseased iiud Bii-swers to questions on every aspect of this new industry will be given. Correspondence i» jnTited. J Breeding industrial rabbits, is, of course, the most important branch of the rabbit farmer's work, for it is principally on the results obtained with this that the financial success of the rabbitry depends. When experience is gained breeding may be carried on throughout the year, but the best time for the beginner to start operations is in the spring, because this is the natural mating season for rabbits. Before they are mated, both the buck and the doc must be in prime condition. The doc should be hard and firm, but at the same time should not be over fat. Further, the coat should be In good condition, and not loose or moulty, and above all, the animal should ba free from cold or any trace of disease. When a doe is mated in a poor or unhealthy state, the chances are that the offspring from such a mating will prove to be poor and weakly, and it is this kind of stock that is always unprofitable. Importance of Stud Buck. 1 am afraid many breeders are often given to neglecting the state' of health of the buck, even if they see that the does are perfectly fit. The buck has just as much influence on the litter as the doe, and if he is weak or ill or poorly nourished these troubles arc almost bound to crop up in some or all of the litter. Yet in many instances he is given some dark corner in a small hutch and denied various titbits simply because he has had the misfortune to be born a male. He should fare equally well in the matter of food and attention as any other inmate of the rabbitry. While he is yet young he should have particular "attention to ensure that he grows as large as possible, for the bigger he is the more likely are his progeny to be large. When run with the doe his coat should be in the pink of perfection, his flesh hard and firm, his eye bright, and his general bearing merry and bright. If he seems at all out of sorts he should not be used until he has completely recovered. While, as I said, many breeders neglect their buck, others go to the other extreme and allow him to get so fat that he is unable to perform his duties efficiently. In many complaints I have investigated, in which the breeders declare their does had accepted service but had not kindled, [ have found that the bucks alone were at fault, being excessivly fat. They were dull and sleepy, and did not appear to have any inclination to carry out their duties. If the stud buck is allowed to get into this condition, he will in a large number of his matings prove to be sterile. Regulating the Feeding. Of course, it is easy enough to reduce the surplus fat in about two :>r three weeks by regulating the feeding, but in doing so you are brineing the buck's health down into a low condition, and before he is again really fit for service you will have wasted from five to six weeks. This means a serious loss. In addition to the cost of keeping the buck during this time, there is still a heavier loss to be considered—that of the does which have already been mated, and may not prove to be in kindle, or which have produced, as a result of the bad condition of the buck, litters which are small in size and number and slow-growing. Feed the male carefully, then give him a hutch that allows him to exercise his limbs, and if you can let him have a run about the shed floor, backyard, or garden for an hour or two occasionally, so much the better. Before you hastily condemn your does for proving sterile or producing small and weak litters make sure of your buck. Watch carefully the results, and if they are uniformly unsatisfactory either buy another buck or obtain a mating from a buck whose reputation is good. If the matings are then far more productive, give short shrift to your own buck—unless von have been neglecting him in any of the ways already mentioned. Further details on the breeding of industrial rabbits will be explained fully next Saturday. Notes. Ashburton breeders are reminded that the annual general meeting of the branch will be held this evening at 7.45, when the election of officers will take place. Several copies of the rules of the association will be available for members to read. An interesting shearing demonstration was given at the last general meeting, and it is possible that a similar demonstration may be arranged in the near future. The Co-operative Rabbit Breeders' Association held a very successful field afternoon last Saturday at the Shirley Rabbitry, owned by Mr J. E. H. Cox. There was a very good attendance of members and persons interested, and during the afternoon Mr Cox gave a demonstration of clipping a matted Angora. After the demonstration Mr Cox answered a number of questions. Those present spent a great deal of time inspecting the stud of Angoras and Sables owned by Mr Cox. Afternoon tea was provided, and at the ccnclusion a hearty vote of thanks was accorded Mr and Mrs Cox for their hospitality.