What are the management methods for a doe rabbit after conception?
How should a doe rabbit be managed after conception?
The gestation period of a doe rabbit refers to the time from mating and conception to kindling and giving birth. The gestation period is generally 30 days. The goal of feeding and management is to ensure normal fetal development, prepare nutrition for postpartum lactation, and prevent stillbirth and miscarriage. The nutrient requirements of a doe rabbit during gestation are equivalent to 1.5 times those during the non-pregnant period. After a doe rabbit conceives, especially in late gestation, the fetus grows and develops quickly and its protein requirements keep increasing, so more feed with high protein content should be given, such as soybean cake and fish meal, along with an appropriate amount of salt. Generally, starting from the 10th day of gestation, the daily feeding amount of a doe rabbit is gradually increased; from 20-28 days, 500-700 grams of green fodder and 100-125 grams of concentrate can be fed per day; 2-3 days before kindling, the concentrate should be reduced and more high-quality green fodder should be fed. In terms of management, care should be taken to protect the fetus and prevent miscarriage, ensuring that the feed is fresh and clean, not feeding moldy, spoiled or frozen feed, and not suddenly changing the feed; keeping the environment quiet, avoiding loud noise, and guarding against disturbance by enemies such as dogs, cats and rats; implementing one rabbit per cage to prevent squeezing and miscarriage; not casually catching a pregnant doe rabbit, and handling gently when palpating the fetus; at the same time, preparing well before kindling, such as placing a disinfected kindling box in the doe rabbit's cage and lining it with soft, clean dry grass.