Breeding rabbits for profit or for fun has proved difficult for novices and professionals. Even experienced rabbitry owners who have been raising and breeding rabbits for many years expect at least 20% mortality rates, meaning they expect at least 20% of their kits to die before they are 70 days old. They also find that an even larger percentage of their first time breeding Does have poor health and aren't very productive past their first litter. Bucks also tend to lose interest in breeding, especially in the heat.
The answers to these issues have only recently been studied in-depth. Scientists have identified that the way you raise a Doe months before you breed her will affect her future health, fertility, and productivity. The main influencing factors are the level of maturity and body fat content of the Doe when you breed her. These can be modified through proper feeding programs and breeding at the right age. The aim is to produce a more mature Doe that has a lower body fat content. This is accomplished by free feeding them a low energy diet that is high in fiber (normal pet rabbit food) or restrictive feeding normal commercial pellets with free choice grass hay during the period after weaning but before breeding. Although this will require waiting a little longer for the Doe to mature before breeding her research proves that this method produces Does that have a lower body fat percentage but are more receptive to breeding. Then, during pregnancy and lactation the Doe's appetite is stimulated (feed only a high-energy commercial pellet) and they will eat more at this critical time. This leads to healthier and faster growing kits, lower mortality rates, and a longer productive life for the Doe.
Scientific research has also revealed that other factors, such as day-length (length of time the rabbits have light during the day), will affect food consumption, hormone levels, time spent nursing, and their receptivity to breeding.
Additionally you can improve your success in breeding rabbits by learning how long you should let kits nurse, the length of time between re-breeding Does, and the use of a proper starter diet. Using proper methods in breeding rabbits can easily decrease mortality rates from over 20% to below 5% and increase feed efficiency.
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