SIMPLE RULES FOR BREEDING 97 



allow their does to breed six or even more 

 times a season, perhaps breeding them when 

 their young are a few weeks old. The does 

 themselves are turned into meat before they 

 are two years old. Between these extremes 

 comes that of the average breeder who aims 

 to produce some rabbits good enough to sell 

 for breeders or perhaps to exhibit, but whose 

 main object is the rearing of utility stock. 

 Such breeders obtain four or possibly five lit- 

 ters a year, and destroy some of the young as 

 soon as born if the litter is larger than the 

 mother can easily care for. This is a logical 

 and intelligent plan. The does are not weak- 

 ened as when they bear an excessive number of 

 young, and the youngsters themselves have 

 sufficient stamina to give them a good start in 

 life. 



The breeder whose mind is fixed wholly on 

 meat production pays little attention to the 

 general appearance of the rabbits which he 

 uses. He simply tries to have them vigorous 

 and of good size. It is a good plan for the 

 amateur, though, to use some care in selecting 

 his breeding stock, trying to get as good a class 

 of animals as possible without including those 



