Biostimulations applied to rabbit reproduction: theory and practice.

Abstract:

Rabbit artificial insemination is now commonly practised in European countrles. In arder to maintain a "natural image" of rabbit meat and to be consistent with animal welfare, authors discuss the interest of biostimulation methods defined in opposition with "gonadotrophin treatment" to improve sexual receptivity of does at the moment of insemination. They first comment how at a physiological level biostimulations can improve reproduction performance. In a second part, they draw up the balance-sheet of their use in zootechnical species and rabbits. They concluded that these methods have to be easy to apply, inexpensive, consistent with animal welfare and have to improve also general productivity. Ughting programs, controlled lactation through temporary mother-litter separatlon and feeding programs seem the most interesting ways to explore.

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