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Reproduction success begins with selection

Overview

When planning matings within your colony, consider the following for optimal reproductive success:

  • Use males with excellent semen (use a theriogenologist to assess).
  • Use broods with normal estrus (verify progesterone rise indicating ovulation during estrus).
  • Avoid inbreeding depression (the first indicator of this is poor fertility!). Inbreeding depression is the reduced survival and fertility of offspring of related individuals. 
  • Have a young colony (fertility decreases with age):
    • Broods ideally age 2-5
    • Studs should be bred to their target number of litters, and then be replaced by the next generation,

 

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