What precautions are there for bamboo rat breeding? Master these key farming points
Pairing and breeding of bamboo rats
If there are not enough females at the time of purchase, male-female pairs can be arranged. The paired male and female must be from different litters (referring to the litter at birth). This 1 male to 1 female pairing makes it easy to keep detailed breeding records, helps maintain purebred lines, and is the method most often used for selective breeding of superior stock.
Group breeding of bamboo rats
A group is formed of 1 male with 2 females or 1 male with 3 females, but the more common practice is to form groups of 2 males with 4 females, 2 males with 6 females, or 3 males with 12 females. In this arrangement, the females may be from the same litter, but the males must never be from the same litter. When selecting pairs, attention must also be paid to the compatibility between the male and female. If after being kept together for a week the male and female still fight or the female comes into heat several times without conceiving, it shows that the compatibility of this combination is poor and they should not be paired or grouped, and should be regrouped.
Monogamy in bamboo rats
Bamboo rats have relatively strong memory and are basically monogamous. Once they have been paired or grouped for breeding, it is very difficult to separate them and regroup them, so whether pairing or grouping, proper arrangements must be made from the time they are young and grouped together.
Preventing inbreeding in bamboo rats
Male and female rats with a direct blood relationship within three generations should not be paired for breeding. Therefore, male and female rats from the same litter cannot be directly paired or grouped; they must be cross-matched with another litter to avoid inbreeding. On larger farms, after weaning, the young rats from different litters are raised separately for one month, then placed in a large pool to be kept together as a group; only after grouping are they paired and sold, so farmers who introduce breeding stock should pay attention to this issue.
Mating techniques for bamboo rats
1. Conventional mating method for bamboo rats: For females that have never given birth, if males and females have been kept together in a mixed group since young, they can be allowed to choose mates freely, and once pregnancy is detected, the pregnant female is separated and kept alone. For females that have already given birth, after weaning at 30-35 days, the female is moved to a large pool to be kept together with other males and females, or separated out to be kept alone with her original mate. If nutritional conditions are good, the time of weaning is also exactly the time the female comes into heat, and after the male and female are kept together for 2-3 days they can conceive. If a female about to be weaned is found biting her young, and feed is not lacking, it indicates that the female has come into heat early, and the female must be isolated in time so that the male can mate with her promptly.
2. Blood mating method for bamboo rats (not recommended): This method is an effective way to shorten the breeding cycle and improve the litter-bearing capacity of females. For males and females kept together in the same cage, they must be separated at the time of birthing. Twelve hours after the female gives birth, when her mood has stabilized and she shows signs of seeking the male, “blood mating” can be carried out. The method is, 12-48 hours after birthing, to take the female out twice and place her into the male's cage, mating her separately with two males. These two males must have been raised together with the female since young and be close to each other, otherwise the male and female will fight endlessly when they meet. The first mating can be carried out 12-24 hours after birthing, and the second mating 25-48 hours after birthing, with each stay in the cage lasting 1 hour. After mating is complete, the female is put back into the birthing nest chamber to nurse her young. Such repeated mating can increase the conception rate and the number of young born. Only by practicing “blood mating” is it possible to produce 5 litters a year, and only by practicing repeat mating is it possible for a single litter to reach more than 5-6 young, but this method is not suitable for beginners to try.