Effect of Natural Mating Frequency and Artificial Insemination on Fertility in Rabbits and Their Cyto-genetic Profile (X-chromatin)
P. K. Ajuogu *
Department of Animal Science and Fisheries, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Port Harcourt, P.M.B.5323 Choba, Port Harcourt, Nigeria.
U. Herbert
Department of Animal Science, Micheal Okpara Federal University of Agriculture Umudike, Abia State, Nigeria.
M. A. Yahaya
Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu Orowurukwu Diobu, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
A study was conducted to determine the cyto-genetic profile of breeding rabbits and the impact of natural mating frequency and artificial insemination on its fertility status. Twenty four (post-pubertal) does aged 8-9 months and four matured (aged 10-12 months) fertile bucks of New Zealand white breed, were randomly assigned to four experimental groups (A, B, C and D) in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD). Groups A to C had been subjected to different level of daily mating of once a day (treatment A- the control), twice daily (treatment B) and thrice daily (treatment C) mating pattern. Animals of group D were subjected to artificial insemination. The experiment lasted for six months, during which two parities were obtained. The mean conception rate, kindling rate and litter size showed significant differences (p<0.001) among experimental groups according to increasing level of frequency of daily mating. Significant difference (p<0.05) was also observed on litter weight when decreasing the order of daily mating frequency. The frequency of daily mating had no influence (p>0.05) on gestation length. The X-chromatin incidence of does with zero conception and their males were within a normal range of 2-12% and 0-2%, respectively. It can be concluded that daily mating frequency has a favorable influence on reproductive parameters examined in this study.
Keywords: Breeding pattern, X-chromatin, rabbit doe, artificial mating, fertility