Thursday, July 28, 2005
Holland Lop Nationals: It's Time!
It's time to start thinking about Holland Lop Nationals. No, not ARBA Convention- it's too late for that. It's time to start thinking about juniors for Nationals.
Take a look at the caledar. Think about how old you want your juniors to be at Nationals (best to select a range, such as 4 1/2 months to 5 3/4 months). Now count back to the date you want them to be born. You will be calculating a beginning date and an ending date. Subtract 31 days from each of those dates and you have your critical dates for breeding for juniors for Holland Lop Nationals.
Let's work out an example. Nationals will be April 8 & 9, 2006. Let's say that I want my juniors to turn senior the following Wednesday. They would turn six months old on April 12. That means I want them born not before October 12. So I would breed for juniors not before September 11. I've built in a cushion, so I don't have to worry about kits being born on day 29.
If I count forward 6 weeks, I have my cutoff date, somewhere around October 26. And since I'll be at ARBA Convention at that time, I can easily remember that I need to finish up all of my breeding for Nationals juniors by the time I go to Convention.
Now you may be asking why all of this is important to know now. Well, breeding choices I make now will determine when my does will be open during my optimal breeding period of Nationals. Obviously, the earlier I breed for Nationals (but not before my September 11 starting date), the more mature my juniors will be. I'd like for my best-producing does to be open on or soon after September 11. And I certainly wouldn't want to breed a favorite on September 1 and have her tied up!
Any doe I breed right now could be rebred on September 11, assuming that I plan ahead and have enough does to foster litters. And of course as always, rebreeding depends on the condition of my doe, so I would be taking a risk, especially since the heat is likely to take a lot out of her.
I hope to see all of you at Holland Lop Nationals next spring. I belong to the Classy Country Hollanders who are sponsors for the show down in Perry, GA, and am thrilled to involved with putting on a national show. Put it on your calendar now and plan to enjoy some southern hospitality!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Holland Lops of Distinction"
www.thenaturetrail.com/
www.thenaturetrai.com/blog/BLOG
¶ 11:53 AM
Take a look at the caledar. Think about how old you want your juniors to be at Nationals (best to select a range, such as 4 1/2 months to 5 3/4 months). Now count back to the date you want them to be born. You will be calculating a beginning date and an ending date. Subtract 31 days from each of those dates and you have your critical dates for breeding for juniors for Holland Lop Nationals.
Let's work out an example. Nationals will be April 8 & 9, 2006. Let's say that I want my juniors to turn senior the following Wednesday. They would turn six months old on April 12. That means I want them born not before October 12. So I would breed for juniors not before September 11. I've built in a cushion, so I don't have to worry about kits being born on day 29.
If I count forward 6 weeks, I have my cutoff date, somewhere around October 26. And since I'll be at ARBA Convention at that time, I can easily remember that I need to finish up all of my breeding for Nationals juniors by the time I go to Convention.
Now you may be asking why all of this is important to know now. Well, breeding choices I make now will determine when my does will be open during my optimal breeding period of Nationals. Obviously, the earlier I breed for Nationals (but not before my September 11 starting date), the more mature my juniors will be. I'd like for my best-producing does to be open on or soon after September 11. And I certainly wouldn't want to breed a favorite on September 1 and have her tied up!
Any doe I breed right now could be rebred on September 11, assuming that I plan ahead and have enough does to foster litters. And of course as always, rebreeding depends on the condition of my doe, so I would be taking a risk, especially since the heat is likely to take a lot out of her.
I hope to see all of you at Holland Lop Nationals next spring. I belong to the Classy Country Hollanders who are sponsors for the show down in Perry, GA, and am thrilled to involved with putting on a national show. Put it on your calendar now and plan to enjoy some southern hospitality!
Laurie Stroupe
The Nature Trail Rabbitry
"Holland Lops of Distinction"
www.thenaturetrail.com/
www.thenaturetrai.com/blog/BLOG
¶ 11:53 AM
