How long can you breed back to the same buck?

[alforddm]

I know we've discussed inbreeding here and intensive inbreeding is generally considered safe for multiple generations, especially for meat rabbits that can be heavily culled.

As some of you know, I have a rex buck that I have been using on my meat mutt does. I have kept daughters of his and are breeding them back to him. I would like to do the same with his granddaughters (which are also his daughters). Can I just keep doing this until a problem pops up? Thoughts?

The old Ray Stevens song "I'm my own Grandpa" keeps running through my head...

 

[caroline]

Of course you can. Until you find that you don't like what you are getting.
If I were doing that I would only keep the largest, healthiest, fastest growing offspring.
What usually happens is that intensive inbreeding results in smaller offspring.
You will also find out what recessive traits your rabbits carry.
Some may be undesirable and that will be good to know.

 

[Zass]

So long as the buck is free of harmful recessive traits, inbreeding consecutive generations should be absolutely fine.

 

[alforddm]

Thanks both of you. I figured that would be the answer but thought I would ask in case I was missing something.