Fall Strategies for Rabbit Infertility Prevention
Understanding and Preventing Infertility in Rabbits During the Autumn Season
1. Lack of Estrus in Female Rabbits: During autumn, female rabbits often experience a lack of estrus due to their recent escape from the summer heat and the onset of the seasonal molting period. After enduring the summer, their bodies are already weakened, and the upcoming molting season further strains their health. Without adequate nutrition, this can lead to a failure to come into heat. Therefore, it is crucial for owners to promptly enhance the rabbits' diet, ensuring a protein content of 16% to 18%. Additionally, it is important to supplement vitamins and trace minerals, as these nutrients play a vital role in the rabbits' estrus and breeding. It is also essential to increase the rabbits' exposure to sunlight, aiming for about 14 hours a day. If natural daylight is insufficient, artificial lighting should be used to compensate. Regular grooming to facilitate smooth hair shedding and growth is also recommended. Generally, once the molting period ends and their condition improves, rabbits will naturally come into heat. However, if they do not, owners may need to resort to artificial stimulation, such as massaging or teasing the rabbits to induce estrus. In some cases, hormonal treatments and other medications may be necessary to stimulate estrus. It is generally preferable to allow rabbits to come into heat naturally, as this tends to result in better breeding outcomes.
2. Reduced Libido in Male Rabbits: The infertility in male rabbits during autumn is often linked to their temporary infertility during the summer due to high temperatures. The heat weakens their bodies and can cause a reduction in testicle size and sperm production. This temporary infertility can persist into the autumn, requiring approximately 4060 days for the rabbits to regain their fertility, and some may take even longer.
3. Lack of Supporting Measures: If rabbits were not adequately protected from the summer heat, either through effective cooling facilities or other protective measures, their reproductive health can be negatively affected. Even if the female rabbits are in heat, if the male rabbits are in poor health, successful breeding becomes difficult. Therefore, it is important for owners to implement appropriate remedial and nurturing measures for both male and female rabbits. For instance, feeding rabbits cooked soybeans or administering testosterone propionate injections to male rabbits can help restore their sperm production. Each injection should be 5ml, given twice daily, and after two consecutive injections, the male rabbits' sperm production should improve.
These are the insights provided by Oxygen Pet Doctor regarding the reasons for and the prevention and treatment of rabbit infertility during the autumn season. With the help of caring owners, rabbits can achieve successful breeding and reproduction, leading to healthier and happier pets.
