When to cull a breeding buck/doe

Rabbit Talk  Forum

Help Support Rabbit Talk Forum:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.

skysthelimit

Well-known member
Joined
Jan 1, 2012
Messages
9,479
Reaction score
10
Location
Ohio
I wasn't sure which topic this qualifies as--

When do you decide that a buck (or even a doe) is not an asset to your breeding program?

I have a buck, he has sired 3 litters. I looked over those litters today, and decided that out of the 17 kits, I was going to cull 14 of them. The main problem seems to be pinched hips and narrow bodies. There are quite a few flat ones too. These are out of different does. I realize that it is hard to get a show rabbit, but only having one out of each litter that is not pinched, flat, shoulder too low generally not a decent show rabbit? Am I being too picky? I now have five breeding bucks. I don't need all five.
 
I don't think you are being picky. You have a goal for your rabbits, and if that goal is not met, by either a buck or doe, it's time for them to go.

Sounds like this buck is passing on qualities that are definitely not showable.

Karen.
 
I don't know if having litters help prevent cancer in does but since a high percentage of does get cancer I would cull them after a few years.
 
skysthelimit":2kra6fn3 said:
I wasn't sure which topic this qualifies as--

When do you decide that a buck (or even a doe) is not an asset to your breeding program?

I have a buck, he has sired 3 litters. I looked over those litters today, and decided that out of the 17 kits, I was going to cull 14 of them. The main problem seems to be pinched hips and narrow bodies. There are quite a few flat ones too. These are out of different does. I realize that it is hard to get a show rabbit, but only having one out of each litter that is not pinched, flat, shoulder too low generally not a decent show rabbit? Am I being too picky? I now have five breeding bucks. I don't need all five.

All three litters with the same doe? or different does? If different does, I say cull. If same doe, try him with someone different.
 
OAF,

I think different does- Sky says: "I looked over those litters today", and I know lately she has had a hard time restraining herself from sending them to FC before they make weight. :lol:

I would cull him.
 
I was told when I got into Havana's that I should expect 1 keeper per litter, two would be unusual and three is almost unheard of. I think if he is not producing then he should be sold if he has qualities someone else could use or culled. It sounds like you track you results from your breeding well, so I would move forward and in a different direction. There is nothing wrong reevaluating your goals and as long as you have other bucks you are getting good results from, then I would say it is time to move on without that buck. My experience has been people who cull hard have the best stock in the shortest amount of time.
 
Different does. And the one from each litter I would not say are show quality, but breeding quality. The thing that gets me the most is it seems to be the same faults over and over. I was wondering if three wasn't enough. One litter was with his dam, to see in i could repeat his width and depth of body.
 
Back
Top