Feeding Theory...

[Random Rabbit]

I've been trying to figure this out, and thought i would put my theory out here. Ideas and suggestions Most welcome !

We have been feeding the same brand of feed, a 16%, since we got back into the rabbits. I love the feel and condition All of our rabbits. The judges seem to like them as well as we receive very nice comments on the flesh condition . Our meat buyers are quite inpressed as well.

Where i seem to be running into 'something' is with the proven does. Does on their third or better litters. The number of young seems to drop off.. and the kits are not as 'strong looking' compared to the kits of the younger does. ( Eta..The young born still grow out as well as the other young. )

I'm starting to wonder if there can be a cumulative effect due to something not in balance in the feed ? While the younger does have a reserve of whatever it is... as the does produce they start running low on this something ??

I'm considering getting calf manna just to give the older does a boost in protein and see if that might help. OK.... now for more ideas.... :bunnyhop:

 

[OneAcreFarm]

I feed a 16% feed to all my rabbits, but nursing does and weanlings get supplemented with Calf Manna, BOSS, and Oats along with being free fed pellets. They definitely need more nutrition during that time.

 

[ottersatin]

I feed 18% feed to the whole herd when I can get it,
though I will also use 16%. i feel that the higher protein
[18%] allows you to feed less while getting
the same amount of nutrition. In some cases
one must realize that a rabbits stomach is only
so big and so can only take in so much food.
This being the case: In the colder months I believe
it allows the rabbit to eat more which in turn enables it
to maintain it's body temperature and condition.
Ottersatin. ldtimer:

 

[Random Rabbit]

My 'Theory' is that the older does partially run out of a certain something that the young does have reserves of.. perhaps feed related.
My thought was to try giving the does the extra protein starting right after breeding...following thru to when the litter begins to eat. It is the * new born young * that seem to show such a marked difference... after a couple of days they look like the kits from the young does.

 

[MamaSheepdog]

The older does are running low on something... YOUTH! :lol:

 

[Random Rabbit]

The older does are running low on something... YOUTH! :lol:

:lol: ...... (me too)

 

[MamaSheepdog]

Me too. <Sniff!>

 

[SMR]

The better quality eggs are generally the first ones (growth, etc. even if later litters do grow out to be similar, the first are usually the best), so the first litters are usually better then the later ones. There's always the odd ball exception though. An older doe can still produce of course, but she'll never produce the same as her first. Or at least that's my experience and thought. Its kind of like when they start running out of eggs, there's a fine number and once they're gone they're gone. I think feed may play a part, good feed best results possible for the given rabbit. Ya can't make a million dollar bunny out of one that doesn't have the genes to do it, so you must be breeding some very nice buns to keep getting those comments

 

[Jack]

I feed manna pro, I know there is better, but....
the PRO has a higher fat, is a 16%
Show is a leaner 16%
and I buy GRO (they have Thriantas on the bag )
for babies and one's I'm trying to bring into condition, I also supplement with Calf Manna and BOS and oats, in a 25/25/50 mix.
and of course, hay, esp. for the fat ones, you put on a diet.

 

[akane]

Its kind of like when they start running out of eggs, there's a fine number and once they're gone they're gone.

Completely false. All animals are born with far more eggs than they can use in a lifetime including chickens even if they produce every day. If you consider that they are born with millions of potential eggs and only produce well for about 4years even if they laid every day during that time they'd come nowhere near to running out. Even if they laid every day for their full 10 year lifespan they can live they wouldn't run out. It's not that animals run out of eggs. It's that hormones change as they age because their body is no longer in condition to produce as well. Stressing the body by pushing production wears it out faster not uses eggs up faster in both mammals and birds. The longer you can keep them in good condition and not using up their reserves of energy the longer they will produce irregardless of how much they produce in that time.

 

[Frosted Rabbits]

Akane has it---if a person is breeding heavily, the doe does not have time to recondition to the same levels as she was beore the first litters. Over time, there is also a breaking down of the uterine wall, which may very well effect the nutrtional delivery through the placentas and attachments.

 

[arachyd]

If they're not getting these already boss, oats and something green or from the fruit group daily seem to make up for just about anything that could be missing in a rabbit's diet.

 

[OneAcreFarm]

Its kind of like when they start running out of eggs, there's a fine number and once they're gone they're gone.

Completely false. All animals are born with far more eggs than they can use in a lifetime including chickens even if they produce every day. If you consider that they are born with millions of potential eggs and only produce well for about 4years even if they laid every day during that time they'd come nowhere near to running out. Even if they laid every day for their full 10 year lifespan they can live they wouldn't run out. It's not that animals run out of eggs. It's that hormones change as they age because their body is no longer in condition to produce as well. Stressing the body by pushing production wears it out faster not uses eggs up faster in both mammals and birds. The longer you can keep them in good condition and not using up their reserves of energy the longer they will produce irregardless of how much they produce in that time.

Absolutely, if you are not upping the protein while they are nursing then their "reserves" are being used up just to try to maintain.

 

[SMR]

Ah ok, I was told by several other older breeders and had seen it in several books is why I posted that. Didn't think about the other portion.

 

[Bill]

We are rather new to rabbits but not to animals in general. There is very little posibilty of a female ever running out of eggs, but as the body ages and it's ability to sustain (a) embryo(s) decreases the release of eggs decreases. That's why other animals are flushed for eggs, the eggs fertilized and the embryos are implanted into a recip. This is common practice in goats and cattle thus getting many more offspring from an oustanding individual than by only breeding that individual once a year.

One other thing that we have used to increase litter size in goats and pigs is flush feeding. I've seen research done on goats and increasing feed the month before breeding seems to stimulate the release of eggs resulting in less single kids born and more sets of twins and trips. We do that with our goats and sows and although we don't have proof we do have almost all twins and hopefully it helps on our pig litters. We intend to try it on out rabbits also.