Posted by:
rtdunham
at Mon Nov 8 11:03:54 2004 [ Email Message ] [ Show All Posts by rtdunham ]
>>Thanks Terry, I had a group that was at 1.4 but it appears that will not be a problem.
Shouldn't be.
I don't think i mentioned in my post, but when using a male with many females, it's important not to leave them together for a long time: Left together 24 hours, for ex, a male might copulate who knows, up to half a dozen times with that one female. At least the potential for that exists. But that's six deposits of sperm that could otherwise be shared with five other females. I monitor breedings carefully, remove the female after a single copulation and then re-pair them again maybe three or four days later, then five days after that, then five after that, for a total of 4 cops over a couple weeks. With more females, i'll settle for 3x over 2 weeks (breed; wait a week and breed again; wait a week and breed for 3rd time). Or breed once, again after 4 days, again after 6, for 3 in a 10 day period. I've gotten excellent fertility using these schemes. But the key is that this activity has to take place when the animals are "ready"--enthusiastic breeders, it's fine; but if the male has to pursue a reluctant female, you're probably not in the right window of opportunity and results won't be as good as when she's eager & lifting her tail in invitation & readiness, that's when nature's saying "yeah, this would be a good time...."
terry
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