So my first two litters were 6 and 9 off of 8 month old NZW does and 8 month old NZW bucks. So my next litters were 4 and 3. It was over 90 when they were bred back. Would the heat have caused the litters to be small. I always let the buck breed them in the morning and afternoon to make sure they are bred well. Each doe was bred at least 4 times at least 4 days apart.
Small Litters
- Thread starter Wesley
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3mina
Well-known member
Heat does play a part in litter size
skysthelimit
Well-known member
Yep, bucks usually go sterile at that temp, there would have been less viable sperm at the time.
3mina
Well-known member
He needs to "clean the pipes" as it were so just keep breeding, it's different for every buck I think as far as how soon they restart.
MamaSheepdog
Well-known member
:yeahthat:
If I have a buck that hasn't been used in a couple weeks, I allow three covers to the doe. If he has been used that week, only two.
The first few ejaculates are going to have the most dead sperm. If you have a couple of does to breed him to, I would let him cover each twice and then put them back in for a last breeding which will hopefully contain a higher percentage of viable sperm.
That really isn't necessary. If he covers her two or three times in one session (when he is not heat sterile) you should be fine. Sperm live for 72 hours, and rabbits are induced ovulaters and release their eggs about 8-10 hours after "the deed" is done. It takes the sperm about that long to swim up the fallopian tubes, so once the eggs are released the sperm are ready and waiting for them.
If I have a buck that hasn't been used in a couple weeks, I allow three covers to the doe. If he has been used that week, only two.
The first few ejaculates are going to have the most dead sperm. If you have a couple of does to breed him to, I would let him cover each twice and then put them back in for a last breeding which will hopefully contain a higher percentage of viable sperm.
Wesley":2lbq054o said:
That really isn't necessary. If he covers her two or three times in one session (when he is not heat sterile) you should be fine. Sperm live for 72 hours, and rabbits are induced ovulaters and release their eggs about 8-10 hours after "the deed" is done. It takes the sperm about that long to swim up the fallopian tubes, so once the eggs are released the sperm are ready and waiting for them.
