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anoestrus rabbits

22 11:25:45

Question
Can you please help me with this question

Under what circumstances might a female rabbit be anoestrus and how can the problem be treated?

Thank-you
Emily

Answer
Emily,
There are actually NO circumstances that I'd call 'anoestrus' for female rabbits. You may be aware that rabbits, like cats, are induced ovulators. That doesn't mean they are necessarily receptive to the buck all the time, but they ARE going to ovulate if they are 'induced'. The receptivity cycle runs through a 14 day cycle and a breeder can check the vulva color and determine when the doe is 'most receptive'.

The color cycle goes from pale pink through an increasingly more vivid pink to rose to pale red to dark purple, then a drop back to light pink at the end of the cycle.... and the best time to place her with a buck is between the red and purple stages.   

This cycle is relatively regular. The key is that the does are induced ovulators, and if they are indeed penetrated by the buck and thus the inducement cycle is begun, eggs are shed. The eggs will thus, after being shed by the ovary, meet up with the sperm in the oviduct. The sperm are not immediately viable, but after an activation period within the doe, will become able to penetrate the egg, and fertilization occurs about 24 or so hours after breeding occurs. It is advisable to rebreed the doe a day later-just to recheck that everything worked, if she will receive the buck. If she grunts and refuses him, you can be sure she is bred. Also, checking (by rebreeding) 4-5 days later will assure very little lost time if the doe didn't settle the first breeding. Hope this was useful...Steve