Posted in Homestead Barnyard
There are several methods of breeding rabbits, inbreeding, linebreeding, and outcrossing. Lets begin by understanding each method.
Inbreeding is the breeding of close relatives--mother-son, brother-sister, cousins. Tthe term inbreeding usually makes people think of negative outcomes. In raising rabbits it can be good and bad. If you breed two good animals-you could produce a great outcome. Same goes for breeding two rabbits with bad characteristics--Its only going to get worse. Just remember--It makes the good, better--------It makes the bad, worse. Most successful rabbit breeders do use the inbreeding method to improve their stock. Having good starting stock is the key.
linebreeding is the method of breeding that follows a line of descent, usually from a very outstanding ancestor or beginning stock. Take for example...you have a really great doe with all the characteristics you are looking for. She is a wonderful mother with a desired look and coat, no deformities, and in general a really good easy to work with doe. So you want to breed on that line of of direction to improve your stock. Mother-grandson; grandsire-grandson; aunt-nephew, ect. This is a very common way of maintaining and improving your stock.
Outcrossing is just that. You bring in an unrelated rabbit from the same breed. New blood line. At some point in your raising rabbits you will probably find the need to do this. I recently did this myself to increase litter size and overall weight of my stock. I traded for a buck from a friends rabbitry who had all the characteristics I was looking for.
I guess I should mention one other type of breeding--crossbreeding---this is were you cross two breeds. This is always an experimental kind of thing. Some have found success doing this. Others just end up with alot of undesirable characteristics.
So as you can see most breeders combine the methods of breeding to maintain and improve their stock. There is no one right way if you ask me. You are the one working with and raising your rabbits. Each breeder may be looking for a different desirable characteristic. What is important to you in your stock is what matters. Blessings>faithfarm
