A COMPARATIVE STUDY ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF THREE RABBIT BREEDS UNDER NATURAL MATING AND ARTIFICIAL INSEMINATION

Document Type : Research articles.

Authors

1 Poultry Dept., Fac. of Agric. Cairo University, Fayoum Branch.

2 Animal Production Research Institute, Dokki, Giza Egypt.

Abstract

This study was carried out to evaluate three rabbit breeds, as
affected by natural mating and artificial insemination on some
productive and reproductive parameters. One hundred and sixty females
were used in artificial insemination (AI) [64 New Zealand White
(NZW), 48 Californian (Cal) and 48 Senawey (Sen)]. In artificial
insemination, the semen was diluted with two semen extenders. Fifty
two females were chosen (20 NZW, 16 Cal and 16 Sen) for natural
mating. Number of services per conception (NSC), number of mated
does (NM), number of pregnant does (NP), litter size at birth (LSB) and
at weaning (LSW), gestation period (GP), bunny weight at birth (BWB)
and at weaning (BWW), litter weight at birth (LWB) and litter weight at
weaning (LWW) were recorded. Fertility rate (FR) and mortality rate
(MR) were calculated. There was no significant effect of breed on GP
and litter size. NZW rabbit had the heaviest BWB and BWW, LWB and
LWW. Sen had the lowest MR under natural mating (Na). Using AI
decreased FR, increased NSC, decreased LSB, LSW and MR. Second
ejaculate and second dilunt or the interaction between them increased
FR, LSB and LSW. The interaction between first ejaculate (E1) with Cal
or Sen had the lowest FR while second ejaculate (E2) with the same
breeds had the highest values.

Keywords

Fayoum Journal of Agricultural Research and Development
Volume 19, Issue 1
January 2005
Pages 62-70

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