By Prof Dr Safwat Kamal - Egypt

Breeding Season in Rabbits

The breeding season for rabbits begins at the end of summer, around early September, when females weigh between 2.5 and 3 kg. Rabbits reach sexual maturity when females are capable of producing eggs and males are able to produce sperm, which typically occurs around 4 months of age. Sexual maturity, or full reproductive capability, is reached by 6 months. Factors affecting the onset of sexual maturity and reproduction include the breed of rabbit, nutritional level, health status, and breeding season. Actual reproductive processes and production then commence.

1. Breeding To check if a female is ready for mating, she is held by the skin on her back and examined by pressing on either side of her genital opening with the thumb and index fingers. The appearance of the genital opening in a ready-to-breed female should be organized in shape, appropriately sized, slightly swollen, and dark pink to crimson in color. The female is then brought to the male (not the other way around). When the male circles behind the female and attempts to mount her, she should be allowed to remain for a short while (not too long to avoid affecting the male's ability to mount). Sometimes, the female may need to be held still to allow the male to complete the mating process. Successful mating is indicated when the male leans to the side while still being attached to the female, and he may make some sounds (either loud or muted). Sometimes, the male may need assistance by holding the female by the skin on her back behind the neck, pulling the skin forward to lift her tail, while the male completes the mating process. The mating is repeated once more within 15 minutes, and the mating date is recorded in the female's record. Some breeders move the female to the male and leave her for up to a day or overnight, believing that this might result in successful mating, but in such cases, the certainty of successful mating is not guaranteed.

2. Palpation About 10 to 12 days after mating, the female is palpated. This is done by holding the skin on her back with the left hand and cupping her abdomen with the right hand, with the thumb on one side and the other fingers on the other side of the abdomen. The reproductive organs (uterus) are gently palpated back and forth without applying pressure to feel for embryos, which are the size of a small pea. If embryos are confirmed, this is noted in the palpation results. If the presence of embryos is not confirmed due to inexperience or an actual lack of pregnancy, the female should be bred again and palpated again after 10 to 12 days. If the female is pregnant from the first mating, she should be palpated between the 20th and 24th days of pregnancy. If she is not pregnant, and pregnancy is confirmed from the second mating, the precaution is taken to avoid losing that period in vain. Repeated breeding, palpation, and comparison of pregnant rabbits at different stages of pregnancy with non-pregnant ones will build experience through repetition and consistency. These two processes, mating and palpation, are among the most important and precise tasks faced by rabbit breeders.

3. Birth Once pregnancy is confirmed, after 26 days from mating, the breeder should examine the mother by palpation. The abdomen will be visibly shaped, and hard lumps (embryos) will be felt under the hands. The breeder should prepare the nesting box with a layer of cut rice straw or sawdust. The bedding should be maintained until the birth occurs, typically between the 30th and 32nd days of mating. It is important to handle the mother gently during this period due to her potential nervousness. From the 30th day, she should be observed morning and evening daily. When the birth occurs, the kits (offspring) should be lifted, the nesting box cleaned, the kits examined, and the mother returned to the nesting box as it was. The mother should be rebred immediately if she has fewer than 7 kits, and after 4 to 7 days if she has more than that.

Fostering

In this process, young rabbits are transferred from one mother to another for various reasons, such as the mother’s death or when more than 8 kits are born, or if a mother produces fewer kits than needed to fill the number under foster mothers. This is done by placing the kits in a new nest with the foster mother. The simplest method is to move the kits from their original mother, close the nesting box for at least 6 hours, allowing the transferred kits to mix with the original kits and acquire their scent. Additionally, the foster mother’s prolonged contact with her own kits helps her accept the transferred ones.

Care for Kits

Kits are examined regularly from birth until weaning, observing the nesting box, the health of the kits, and the cleanliness of the bedding, until the kits move from the nesting box to the mother’s nest starting from the 15th day. It is important to ensure the cleanliness of the nesting box and avoid soiling by the kits, and to change the bedding until weaning age.