Effective Strategies to Prevent Rabbit False Pregnancy
After mating, a female rabbit may not successfully become pregnant, leading to a condition known as pseudopregnancy. The symptoms of pseudopregnancy in rabbits can be quite similar to those of a real pregnancy, but without the presence of offspring. This condition can reduce the number of kits born annually, directly impacting the profitability of rabbit farms. So, how can we prevent pseudopregnancy in rabbits? Below, we'll share some effective methods to help prevent this issue.
Identifying Pseudopregnancy in Rabbits
Rabbits typically give birth around one month after mating. However, some rabbits may exhibit pregnancy symptoms after mating but fail to deliver kits by the expected date, indicating pseudopregnancy. While pseudopregnancy usually doesn't harm the rabbit's health and often resolves within a couple of weeks, it can decrease the number of kits born and lead to economic losses for the farm. Therefore, it's important to confirm pregnancy after mating. Here's how to identify pseudopregnancy:
After 10 days of mating, owners can perform a palpation exam to check if the rabbit has successfully conceived. However, it's crucial to be gentle to avoid causing a miscarriage. Alternatively, you can place the rabbit with a male in a separate cage after 15 days of mating. If the rabbit is pregnant, it will likely resist the male's advances. If it's pseudopregnant, the rabbit will continue to cycle and accept mating. If pregnancy is confirmed, make sure to keep detailed breeding and mating records.
Reducing the Occurrence of Pseudopregnancy
Create pedigrees. For breeding rabbits, it's advisable to establish pedigrees and assign individual numbers. Keep separate breeding records for both male and female rabbits, documenting their mating and birthing history. Avoid inbreeding, and ensure rabbits are not bred before they are fully mature, during molting, or during harsh weather conditions.
Implement repeated mating and double mating techniques. Repeated mating involves allowing rabbits to mate a second time 5 to 6 hours after the first mating. Double mating is when a rabbit is mated with a second male 15 minutes after the first mating. If using a male rabbit that hasn't been bred for a long time, ensure the rabbit is rebred within 8 hours of the first mating.
Enhance feeding and management. Pay close attention to the rabbits' living environment, ensuring it's clean and hygienic. Allow them regular exercise to prevent obesity. Avoid unnecessary handling of female rabbits and prevent intact males from chasing or mounting them. Keep female rabbits in individual cages to maintain cleanliness.
Strengthen disease prevention. Regularly examine the rabbits for health issues, checking the female's reproductive system for inflammation or abnormalities before mating. Treat any conditions promptly, and ensure the rabbit is completely healed before breeding. Maintain rabbit housing cleanliness and perform regular disinfection.
Conduct timely pregnancy diagnostics. Perform a palpation exam 10 days after mating to check for pregnancy. If the rabbit is not pregnant, arrange for a rebreeding to prevent infertility or pseudopregnancy.
By understanding and implementing these strategies, rabbit owners can significantly reduce the occurrence of pseudopregnancy, ensuring a healthier and more profitable rabbit farm.
