I have 3.5 rats right now that are solely breeders. I don't ever plan to feed them off. Once they are past their prime breeding age or if they ever get to where they can't have babies anymore the males will be neutered and they'll all be "put out to pasture" in a big cage just for the retired breeders. The babies are food and while I do feel bad sometimes about feeding them off that's what they're for. But the breeders are my babies and I love them all, it's way too easy to get attached to a rat lol.