Breeding
Did you know? Cavies are born precocial. This means that they are fully developed with open eyes, a full coat and can eat solids almost instantly. They require their mother's milk for at least 3 weeks (to build an immune system) and should be taken from her no earlier (unless the male babies are attempting to mount their sisters or mother).
Current and future Awesome pairings (and expected litters) -
Current and future Awesome pairings (and expected litters) -
|
Breed
Aby Rex Sheba |
Boar
Dunvegan 9 Awesome "Gumbo" Awesome "Gumbo" Awesome "Gumbo" Awesome roan boar Karkalla Oedipus Karkalla Oedipus Cavriolet Ximun Cavriolet Ximun Awesome Ragnarok? Awesome Ragnarok? Awesome Ragnarok? |
Sow
Cavameer Mania Dunvegan Quistis Awesome roan sow Cavameer Terra Awesome "Girly" Bohemiansecret Lilly Rosemont Yowie Awesome Kiohne Awesome Ki Awesome Sol Awesome Nott Awesome Eir |
Pair Date
3/3/13 Sep 2013 Sep 2013 Sep 2013 Sep 2013 Jun 2013 Jul 2013 Jul 2013 Jul 2013 Aug 2013 Aug 2013 Aug 2013 |
Litter Due
12/5/13 Nov2013 Nov 2013 Nov 2013 Nov 2013 Aug 2013 Sep 2013 Sep 2013 Sep 2013 Oct 2013 Oct 2013 Oct 2013 |
"Litter Due" dates are exactly 70 days after pairing. Sometimes sows take a while to become pregnant, as they only go into heat every 16 days or so.
I will update with pictures and info as soon as more Awesome litters are born in the Blog and Awesome Gallery sections.
Info:
Awesome cavy stud aims to breed pure Rex, Abyssinian and Sheba Miniyak in show condition whilst adhering to the national breed standard for each breed. My sows are usually bred twice a year, with a long break to rest and gain condition after birth before being put to a boar again. They are bred between the ages of 5 and 7 months to begin with so their pelvic cartilage stretches and allows for future births. A sow who has not been bred in the first 7+ months of her life is more likely to be in danger of birth and pregnancy complications. As my stud prefix is Awesome, all cavies born under my stud have that attachment. For example, a pure Rex born here that I call "Name" would be "Awesome Name".
Pairing boars and sows is never taken lightly. I want to get the best from the mother and father, and won't breed a cavy who is sick, too young, too old, has had problems littering previously or has undesirable traits for a show cavy. My opinions may differ from other studs, but speaking to experienced breeders and doing my research has made me come to realise a few things about breeding. It is important to note the following:
In breeding/Line breeding SHOULDN'T be a dirty word (at least not where cavies are concerned). Here is why:
1. Cavies (like humans) are a colony species = inbreeding is natural and normal for cavies. It occurs freely in nature. A wild herd would be no different.
2. Lab studies have been done to prove that there are no issues with breeding related cavies (brother to sister over 17 generations).
3. It is the best way of managing your breeding program and maintaining ideal traits. Out-crossing generally does more damage than line/in breeding by bringing in poor blood/unknown genetic backgrounds/illness into the line.
4. Never impose human morality onto cavies. They are acting naturally and instinctively. They don't care that they are related, and are not forced. Furthermore, when sows don't like a boar or his advances, they let him know.
Go forth and multiply! (Safely and responsibly)
I used to have a huge problem with inbreeding and avoided it altogether. This only creates cavies with multiple problems, as they take errors/illness from both parents and pass it on. It is safer and cleaner to breed in the same line, usually father to daughter/mother to son or grandparents to grandchildren. If inbreeding never existed, there wouldn't be any specific breeds of cavy, horse or dog. That said - dogs are line bred much too often, too closely, in mass amounts and by inexperienced backyard breeders and puppy farms to produce "ideal" stock, so of course canines have had problems. Thankfully, I'm talking about guinea pigs.
After I got over the idea of incest in my animals, I saw that the friendliest, healthiest and best cavies in show always had at least a little line-breeding in their Pedigree. My current pairings aren't closely related, but they seem to be of good stock with great bloodlines, so hopefully they will make healthy, happy pups. They share some common lineage back in the lines. I have not yet paired any close relatives and only have distant cousins together or cavies of no relation at all, but as time passes I may see traits develop in closer relations and try to maintain that.
I will update with pictures and info as soon as more Awesome litters are born in the Blog and Awesome Gallery sections.
Info:
Awesome cavy stud aims to breed pure Rex, Abyssinian and Sheba Miniyak in show condition whilst adhering to the national breed standard for each breed. My sows are usually bred twice a year, with a long break to rest and gain condition after birth before being put to a boar again. They are bred between the ages of 5 and 7 months to begin with so their pelvic cartilage stretches and allows for future births. A sow who has not been bred in the first 7+ months of her life is more likely to be in danger of birth and pregnancy complications. As my stud prefix is Awesome, all cavies born under my stud have that attachment. For example, a pure Rex born here that I call "Name" would be "Awesome Name".
Pairing boars and sows is never taken lightly. I want to get the best from the mother and father, and won't breed a cavy who is sick, too young, too old, has had problems littering previously or has undesirable traits for a show cavy. My opinions may differ from other studs, but speaking to experienced breeders and doing my research has made me come to realise a few things about breeding. It is important to note the following:
In breeding/Line breeding SHOULDN'T be a dirty word (at least not where cavies are concerned). Here is why:
1. Cavies (like humans) are a colony species = inbreeding is natural and normal for cavies. It occurs freely in nature. A wild herd would be no different.
2. Lab studies have been done to prove that there are no issues with breeding related cavies (brother to sister over 17 generations).
3. It is the best way of managing your breeding program and maintaining ideal traits. Out-crossing generally does more damage than line/in breeding by bringing in poor blood/unknown genetic backgrounds/illness into the line.
4. Never impose human morality onto cavies. They are acting naturally and instinctively. They don't care that they are related, and are not forced. Furthermore, when sows don't like a boar or his advances, they let him know.
Go forth and multiply! (Safely and responsibly)
I used to have a huge problem with inbreeding and avoided it altogether. This only creates cavies with multiple problems, as they take errors/illness from both parents and pass it on. It is safer and cleaner to breed in the same line, usually father to daughter/mother to son or grandparents to grandchildren. If inbreeding never existed, there wouldn't be any specific breeds of cavy, horse or dog. That said - dogs are line bred much too often, too closely, in mass amounts and by inexperienced backyard breeders and puppy farms to produce "ideal" stock, so of course canines have had problems. Thankfully, I'm talking about guinea pigs.
After I got over the idea of incest in my animals, I saw that the friendliest, healthiest and best cavies in show always had at least a little line-breeding in their Pedigree. My current pairings aren't closely related, but they seem to be of good stock with great bloodlines, so hopefully they will make healthy, happy pups. They share some common lineage back in the lines. I have not yet paired any close relatives and only have distant cousins together or cavies of no relation at all, but as time passes I may see traits develop in closer relations and try to maintain that.
