Expert: Walter Hintz - 11/18/2007

Question
Hello i am a grade 9 student and am doing a report .
It's supposed to be on the reproduction in a commerically grown crop or livestock. I have picked a rabbit.
So my question is , how do rabbits reproduce ?

Answer
Hi Liana:
Just like all other mammals rabbits reproduce sexually by copulation.  Like cats and dogs they do have an estrous cycle whereby the female will only mate at certain periods. (this is described as being "in heat") Like cats the mating procedure induces ovulation so that pregnancy always results from mating.
An interesting sidelight is that in certain cases of stress during the pregnancy (like not enough food) the pregnancy ceases and the developing young are absorbed.
 Let me know if you need more information