FOR EXHIBITION AND MARKET 



known breeders are only expecting three litters each 

 year. 



The next question that arises is, at what time of 

 the year should one breed his stock? If all the country 

 were like California, Florida or other warm states, 

 or if the states were all like the middle west, western 

 and eastern states, it would be an easy matter to 

 designate certain months for breeding as a guide for 

 all. First take the states that experience severe win- 

 ters. The proper thing to do is to follow just as near 

 Nature's footsteps as possible and that means young 

 rabbits running around with the warm spring sun to 

 help develop them, when all spring vegetables are 

 easy to procure for feed. February or March is the 

 proper time for the first breeding, ahd the latter part 

 of August or September for the next. Then let them 

 rest the remainder of the year. In warm climates the 

 cold rainy season is nearly as hard on rabbits as the 

 sudden changes and severe winters experienced in cold 

 climates. 



Another point to note is that the first youngsters of 

 wild rabbits in sections having mild winters, make 

 their appearance about the same time that our wild 

 rabbits show up in the east, so it would seem a pretty 

 good plan to use the same system in all parts of the 

 country. Of course, in the warmer sections one can 

 probably produce three litters easier than in a more 

 rigorous climate, but the February or March breeding 

 rule will hold in all sections. Trying to bring young- 

 sters through cold, severe winters, usually results in 

 stunted stock that will prove of little value to anyone. 



35 



