In the breeding process at Zhang Desheng Rabbit Farm in Guangling Town, Taixing City, a careful selection of rabbits was made to serve as breeders, and foxes were also raised. This strategy significantly boosted the profitability of rabbit farming. In 2006, the farm achieved an income of one million yuan, doubling the average income from the previous three years.
The rabbit farm has been in operation for ten years. Initially, despite efforts to improve breeding techniques, results were limited. However, in the second half of 2005, under the guidance of scientific and technical personnel, the staff gained valuable knowledge on breeding and management. This led to significant improvements in production. In 2005, there were 28 male and 140 female rabbits. By 2006, the farm successfully gave birth to 4,580 kits, with an average of 7.5 per litter. More than 3,500 Rex rabbits were sold that year, with an average price of 58 yuan per rabbit. The annual output value reached 203,000 yuan, and profits hit 100,000 yuan, setting a new record.
The breeding techniques implemented at the farm focused on several key areas:
1. Selecting high-quality rabbits
Starting in September 2005, the farm conducted a thorough selection of 760 mature rabbits. Criteria included a well-proportioned head and body, erect ears, bright eyes, shiny and elastic fur, a body length of at least 40 cm, a chest circumference of 32 cm or more, a wide and deep chest, a broad and flat back, round and wide hindquarters, and strong, muscular limbs. Male rabbits needed to have slightly curved penises, well-proportioned testes, and strong vitality, while females should have good maternal instincts, more than four pairs of nipples, and clean genitalia. A total of 168 rabbits were selected. During this process, the farm learned from past mistakes, such as having too many females and low fertility rates. They adjusted the male-to-female ratio from 1:12 to 1:5.
2. Breeding during optimal seasons
Although rabbits can be bred throughout the year, heat in summer and shedding in early autumn can reduce fertility. Therefore, breeding was concentrated in spring and winter. The farm focused on mating during these periods and paid close attention to four key steps:
2.1 Pre-mating preparation
Before mating, both male and female rabbits were given ample green feed, such as vegetables, carrots, fish meal, soybean cake, bran, and broken rice for males, and potatoes, cabbage, bone meal, and other nutritious foods for females. Rabbits were also allowed to sunbathe regularly to improve their health. The hair around the genitals was trimmed to prevent infections.
2.2 Stimulating estrus in females
Female rabbits were placed in the cages of male rabbits once daily. The males’ chasing and mounting behavior stimulated the females, promoting the release of hormones that increased the chances of successful breeding.
2.3 Identifying estrus
Adult females typically go into heat for two weeks, with each cycle lasting 3–4 days. When in heat, the vulva becomes moist, red, and swollen. A pink color indicates the start of heat, a bright red means it is peaking, and a purple color signals the best time for mating.
2.4 Proper breeding methods
Mating was best done after feeding in the morning or evening. Males mated 1–2 times per day, with a rest day if mating twice. After mating, the female’s rump was gently tapped to help the semen reach deeper. A second mating was performed 8–10 hours later to increase the chances of fertilization and boost conception rates.
3. Managing nutrition during pregnancy
Proper nutrition during pregnancy was crucial for fetal development. The farm carefully balanced the diet, ensuring high nutritional value, good palatability, and easy digestion. Green fodder was always available, and additional supplements like soybean cake, peanut cake, bran, bone meal, and salt were provided to support both the fetus and the mother’s health.
4. Disease prevention
At the beginning, the farm suffered losses due to disease introduced through new rabbits. Since then, they started vaccinating all rabbits at around 30 days old with vaccines against plague, pasteurellosis, and viral hemorrhagic disease to ensure long-term health and stability.
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