Do a good job in winter breeding management of domestic rabbits to effectively improve farming efficiency
Raising domestic rabbits is a good way for farming families to get rich. To enable domestic rabbits to breed normally, a good living environment must be created for them. Doing a good job in winter breeding of domestic rabbits is an important measure to improve the farming efficiency of domestic rabbits. Zhou Fengxian, a specialized domestic rabbit farming household in Yiyang City, Hunan Province, has summarized a set of farming techniques for strengthening winter breeding management of domestic rabbits and improving farming efficiency through years of practice.
?Select good breeding rabbits
For breeding rabbits used for winter breeding, breeding bucks should be 8-10 months old and weigh more than 3.5 kg; breeding does should be 6-8 months old and weigh more than 3 kg. Breeding bucks are required to have a full appearance, a long body, a flat back, agile movements, normal appetite, sturdy limbs, glossy fur, good development, strong libido, and good semen quality; breeding does are required to have a robust constitution, a gentle temperament, glossy fur, good reproductive organs, no contaminants around the anus and vulva, normal estrus, no fewer than 4 pairs of teats, the ability to carry straw in their mouths and pull fur to make a nest, the ability to nurse, and many offspring with good constitution.
Do a good job at the mating stage
In winter, domestic rabbits are not fond of activity, and their estrous cycle is generally 7-17 days, with estrus lasting 1-3 days. Therefore, it is necessary to grasp the patterns of estrus and mate them in time. Winter mating should be carried out at noon on clear days after the tenth lunar month. At this time, domestic rabbits have strong libido, abundant energy, and are relatively quiet, making conception easier. In addition, 1 hour before sunrise and 1 hour after sunset in winter is also a period of vigorous sexual function in domestic rabbits, so mating can also be carried out at this time. After breeding rabbits mate, immediately pat the doe on the rump with your hand to stimulate contraction of the hindquarters, take in the semen, and increase the conception rate. A "double mating method" can be used, that is, mate with one buck in the morning and another buck in the evening; an "administrative mating method" can also be used, that is, mate with one buck in the morning and still use this buck in the evening, so that the doe gives birth to more young rabbits.
????Do a good job in cold protection and heat preservation of the rabbit hutch
Domestic rabbits like a dry and clean environment, and the most suitable temperature is 10°C-25°C. Therefore, in winter, cold protection and heat preservation of the rabbit hutch must be done well. The rabbit hutch must be built in a place sheltered from the wind, facing the sun, and warm. Cage rearing, indoor rearing, and plastic warm shed rearing are all acceptable. The temperature should be controlled above 10°C, and at the lowest it must not be lower than 5°C. During the breeding period, straw curtains should be hung at the entrance of the rabbit hutch, and soft grass should be spread inside to prevent wind and keep warm. When the weather is warm, rabbits can be released from the hutch to move around and receive light. Absolutely do not light a fire and produce smoke inside the rabbit hutch, to prevent gas poisoning or respiratory diseases. Plant ash or quicklime can also be scattered inside the rabbit hutch to prevent dampness.
?Strengthen feed nutrition
In winter, in the daily ration of pregnant does, green feed such as wild vegetables, cabbage leaves, and carrots must not be less than 30%, and various feed ingredients such as wheat bran, rice bran, soybean cake, fish meal, and bone meal should also be included to prevent the feed from being monotonous. Otherwise, the conception rate of does will be low, the newborn rabbits produced will be weak in vitality, and the does will also be prone to paralysis after giving birth. After each feeding of the rabbits, more drinking water should be supplied to help digestion. It is also strictly forbidden to feed vegetables, grass, and other feed that carry soil, are moldy and spoiled, or are frosted.
?Carefully manage and protect the young rabbits
After the doe gives birth to the young rabbits, feed some brown sugar water and salt water to prevent her from becoming thirsty and eating the young rabbits. In winter, young rabbits should be nursed for a few more days to strengthen their constitution and resist severe cold. When young rabbits reach 16-19 days of age, they can begin to try feed. In the early stage, a small amount of soybean milk and rice soup can be fed, and after a few days add wheat flour and soybean residue. After that, for 6-7 days, mineral feed can be mixed in, and some carrots and other feed can be appropriately fed. Young rabbits should be fed 4-5 times a day, with one additional feeding at night, and sufficient drinking water should be supplied after each feeding. Young rabbits should be allowed to move more and bask in the sun more to increase the survival rate.
????Do a good job in epidemic disease prevention and control
In winter, in addition to preventing domestic rabbits from getting cold and freezing, it is also necessary to regularly feed garlic, ginger, yeast tablets, and so on to prevent the occurrence of epidemic diseases. If rabbit disease occurs, immediately isolate the affected rabbits and treat them according to the symptoms to prevent spread.