Results of reproduction of brown hares (Lepus europaeus Pall.) kept in cages
1997
Slamecka, J. | Hell, P. | Jurcik, R. (Research Inst. of Animal Production, Nitra (Slovak Republic))
Over three years, an average of 3.6.-6.9 young were weaned from each brown hare female per year, comparable with data from other authors. One doe-hare is able to litter 7 times a year when kept in a cage, and there are a maximum of 7 young per litter. Data however regarding the maximum number of young per female and year greatly differ. In the studied herd we noticed 27 live births and 23 weaned. The high losses of young until weaning, which vary from 19 to 36 %, remain an unsolved problem. The reproduction period is the same as with wild hares. There is a high rate of superfoetation in the cage housing which can shorten the interval between litters by 17-18 days. In the studied herd 49-65 % of all intervals between parturitions were shortened by means of superfoetation. There remains to be solved the adaptation to natural conditions for commercial utilisation
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