Page:Care and Management of Rabbits.djvu/189

Rh Do not shun line-breeding because you think it will be injurious to the constitutional vigor of your stock. Such is not true. If you will study the chart carefully you will soon notice that it is not in-breeding in its true sense. And we have only to add that if you want to get anywhere you will have to come to line-breeding. That much has been proved again and again.

Now a few more points about breeding. Do not allow your bucks to serve more than three does a week and it would be better to cut their service down to two. It is as important to preserve the vitality of your bucks as it is of the does.

In carrying the does to the buck's hutch, grasp her by the loose skin back of the ears and place your other hand under her hind quarters. Never carry rabbits by their ears merely because it is easy to do so.

Bucks should not be kept too long. They generally produce inferior offspring after about three or four years of age and it is not good