Effect of mother-litter separation on reproductive performance of lactating rabbit females inseminated on day 4 or 11 post partum.

Abstract

Biostimulation of lactating rabbit females, through time limitad controlled lactation, was comparad to a conventional PMSG treatment. Experimental groups were composed with females separated from their litters for O, 24, 36 or 48 hours befare being inseminated on day 4 or 11 post partum. When biostimulation was applied, results were improved comparad to non-stimulated females, especially fertility on day 4 post partum, after more than 24 hours of mother-litter separation (P<0.01 ). In either the 35 or 42 days reproductiva rhythm, a single mother-litter separation for at least 36 hours, prior to Al, resultad in comparable fertility and prolificacy to those obtained in females treated with 20 IU of PMSG. Although litter survival was not affected, daily growth was slowed down and weaning weight reduced by 10% when litters were not allowed to suck for 36 or 48 hours (P<0.01). lt is concluded that this technique could offer an alternativa method to PMSG treatment in commercial units, in splte of the decrease in growth. However it should be advisable to evaluate at a long term its incidence on global productivity.