A two-year (2010-2011) survey on productive performances and mortality rates of farmed game hares (Lepus europeaus)

The present survey measured the performance and the mortality rates of the biggest game hare farm in Veneto Region (318 hare pairs) during two years (2010-2011). The performances were similar during the two years: the yearly number of alive kits was 10.5 per reproductive present pairs and 11.4 per reproductive fertile pair; the fertile reproductive pairs kindled on average 4.9 times per year, weaned 8.4 kits at 25 d, and produced 7.0 growing hares (60 d of age). Sterility, i.e. the proportion of hare does which never kindled averaged 8.5% of the total number of present does. The culling rate of hare does significantly decreased from 81.1% in 2010 to 69.2% in 2011. The mortality rates of kits varied from 22.9%, during lactation (3-25 d of age) to 9.7% during growth (26-60 d of age). Despite the total mortality of the born hares was not significantly different (38.7% on average), losses were significantly higher in newborn and lactating kits and lower in growing and sub-adult hares during 2010 compared to 2011.