Stunted Growth if Bred Before Full Maturity

[RoosterMania]

My question: Can a doe’s growth be stunted if she is bred before reaching full maturity?

My reason for asking such a question:

I asked the breeder I purchased my Satin doe from if she could breed the doe beforehand. She told me she could, but has noticed in her herd that does she has bred before they are 6 months have stayed small and not reached full size. I told her I’d rather wait and let the doe reach her full potential.

Well, today I weighed my NZ doe who is due on October 4th. I bought her as a proven doe, which I think means that she has already had at least one litter. According to that breeder, she was born on 3/11/21. I am a little disappointed because she weighed in at about 7.5lbs today, which is small for a NZ. I’m wondering if maybe she was bred young and therefore didn’t reach her full weight potential or if she’s just a small rabbit.

 

[ladysown]

It's really hard to say. A lot of people say they have NZ's but they aren't really. So it's hard to really say. She could be one of those "I think this is what they are, but they aren't truly". OR she could have been bred early.

Now in my herd I haven't noticed stunting from being bred early.

 

[Juci]

This is a really good question! I also have a New Zealand doe who’s a little over 7 pounds. She’s 8 months old, and when I brought her home at 6 months she weighed around 5 lbs. I asked around locally and on a thread on here, and a lot of people thought she might have mixed bloodline at that weight, like ladysown mentioned. It’s also possible that she wasn’t given enough food after weaning, and someone on that other thread also brought up the possibility of being a runt.
The people I bought my bucks from said that their growth can be stunted if bred before 6 months, but they didn’t mention anything about the same being true for does.
Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing what others might say on this topic.

 

[Cosima]

This is a really good question! I also have a New Zealand doe who’s a little over 7 pounds. She’s 8 months old, and when I brought her home at 6 months she weighed around 5 lbs. I asked around locally and on a thread on here, and a lot of people thought she might have mixed bloodline at that weight, like ladysown mentioned. It’s also possible that she wasn’t given enough food after weaning, and someone on that other thread also brought up the possibility of being a runt.
The people I bought my bucks from said that their growth can be stunted if bred before 6 months, but they didn’t mention anything about the same being true for does.
Anyway, I’m looking forward to seeing what others might say on this topic.

Why would a bucks growth be stunted and not a does? that makes not sense.

 

[Juci]

Why would a bucks growth be stunted and not a does? that makes not sense.

I’m not sure. They’re backyard farmers but have been doing it for 18 years. They said that was their experience. They bred some bucks before 6 months, and then those bucks ended up small but throwing big kids.

 

[RabbitsOfTheCreek]

Why would a bucks growth be stunted and not a does? that makes not sense.

Well the Does are the ones having the Kits, not the Bucks

 

[Juci]

Well the Does are the ones having the Kits, not the Bucks

I agree.

 

[RoosterMania]

Thank you for the replies. I'll be interested to see how big her kits get when she kindles as well as how many she has and can successfully wean. I'm going to wait until both other bucks and the satin doe are well over 6 months old before I breed them.