A simple question about breeding

[Carolyn]

pamnock wrote:

We've been breeding Hollands for over 15 years and at one timehad approx. 160 of them.? They are a breed very prone to suchhereditary problems as malocclusion and entropian (a defect in theeyelid that causes scarring of the cornea).? Hollands are also veryprone to dystocia (birthing problems).? I recommend setting aside atleast enough money to cover a c-section (an average of $200) in case ofemergency surgery for stuck kits.

Sometimes the resulting stress of breeding rabbits just isn't worth it

Pam

BOTTOM LINE: With breeding comes a lot of heartache.

One must be aware, ready, able, and capable to deal with those that don't go as planned.

-Carolyn

 

[rabbitgirl]

jujubear03 wrote:

I just thanked someone about telling me aboutmalclusion. So I took her advice and am breeding two Hollandlops.

I believe you may have gotten that mixed up--the Hollands areprone to malocclusion, so breeding them would be a higher risk,not lower. I think the advice was to avoid breeding Hollandsbecause of several risk factors.

Just to point that out,

Rose

 

[pamnock]

Correct Rose -- the dwarfbreeds withthe rounder heads are more prone to malocclusion. (However,malocclusion does occur in all breeds).



Pam

 

[jujubear03]

I had a Californian that had malocclusion, so Iknow that a lot of rabbits get it, but her's was taken care of withinthe first three or four months I took her in to the vet, and I do havemoney set aside for vet bills, as I have a ton of animals that Ilove. I know that complications arise in birthing, but theyarise no matter what you do. My Californian (when I was 10)had problems, but she was fine, and we spayed her after her firstlitter. There is no guarantee with any pregnancy with anyanimal. We cannot stop breeding because of this.That is why so many breeds of beautiful animals are rare these days andcannot be found in many places. People stop breeding soothers don't get to enjoy them, and that's what I'm doing. Iam showing my buck next Spring and hopefully my doe, too. I'mgoing to get her in less than a month. I love going to fairsand showings because I love all the different kinds of rabbits you cansee, and I've met many that are so loving and adorable that I want tobe able to show my rabbit, because he is so adorable and so verybeautiful, and my friends that either have bred or shown their rabbitsin the past would also like to do it again. I got myCalifornian from them when I was just 7 years old, so I would like tohelp them out, also.