VIII. Rabbits
A.
General
1. Male–Buck
2. Female–Doe
3. Young–Bunny
B.
Breeding Age
1. Puberty
a. Male
i. 6-7 months
ii. 4 kg
b. Female
i. 5-6 months
ii. 4 kg
2. Reproductive life
a. 1-3 years
C. Cyclicity
1. Type and Season of Cycle
a. Polyestrous
b. Year around
2. Length of Sexual Cycle
a. Not defined
b. Pseudopregnancy–14-16 days
3. Duration of Heat (Estrus)
a. Continuous
4. Time of Ovulation
a. Induced ovulator
b. 10.5 hours post-copulation
5. Viability of Ova
a. 8 hours
D. Mating
1. Doe lordosis
2. Buck suddenly mounts
3. Vigorous copulatory trusts
a. 13 per second
4. Buck falls backwards or sideways and often cries
a. Doe may also cry
5. Copulation may occur again in a minute
E. Pregnancy
1. Gestation–31 days (26-36)
F. Parturition/Lactation
1. Parturition
a. Nesting
b. Occurs early morning
c. < 30 minutes in length
d. Sometimes split parturition
i. Hours to days apart
e. Cannabalism can occur
2. Littersize
a. 3-10 bunnies
3. Mammary Glands
a. 8
b. Arranged in ventrolateral series
4. Weaning Age
a. 8 weeks
b. 1.5 kg
