Continuous or Cycle breed?

[J.Vandegrift]

I have been able to find one article, and I will be following up with the resources that are cited at the end of the article. This article does have citations that a week of rest between litters in beneficial, but more reading is required to make any definite conclusions.

http://www.cavyrescue.co.uk/rat-article26.shtml

I have no doubt that rest probably does prolong their life, but I also don't think continuous breeding makes me selfish or unethical. For me, getting one or two more good litters out of a female before she is fed off is not worth the extra time, money, and space. If my rats were "pets" I would obviously think differently. My rats are kept clean and given the best food on the market. IMO if their bodies were not designed to be able to handle continuous breeding they would not have evolved the ability to do so. I get a normal average lifespan from my rats. If I did not I would not allow them to breed continuously.