Reproduction mode and Strain effects on Rabbit Breeding Performances

Abstract

This study was carried out to determine the impact of the mode of reproduction and the strain (male and female) of rabbits on some zootechnical and reproduction parameters. For that, monitoring was carried out in 2019 in the region of Setif (North Eastern Algeria) on a semi-intensive breeding of 25 crossbreed rabbits. The statistical analysis showed a very highly significant effect of the mode of reproduction on the number of mating per fertilizing mating (P= 0.0001) with an average of 1 ± 0 in AI (Fertility rate of 80%), while it was of 1.45 ± 0.51 in natural breeding with a fertility rate of 61%. The weight of the rabbits at weaning was higher in AI than in natural mating (587.25 ± 338.19 g vs. 575.0 ± 375.44 g, respectively). The results relating to the number of total born, born alive, weaned rabbits, the farrowing-mating interval and the farrowing-fertilizing mating interval in natural mode were respectively of (7.4 ± 3.12), (4.55 ± 3.12), (4.55 ± 3.12), (12.65 ± 2.30), (19.15 ± 3.58); and in AI: (6.90 ± 4.12), (5.75 ± 4 .12), (5.75 ± 4.12), (11.65 ± 2.05), (18.99 ± 3.2) (P>0.05). Furthermore, and regarding the strains, data revealed that the females did not have any significant effect on the variables studied. On the contrary, the male had a very highly significant effect on the number of mating per fertilizing mating (p = 0.000), while it had no impact on the other parameters (P>0.05). To conclude, the control and the management of reproduction is the key to success in rabbit breeding, thus the combination of rearing condition and genetic effects is the main tool for making rabbit farming successful.