Effect of mother-litter separation for 24 hours, by closing the nestbox or change of cage, on rabbit doe reproduction performance.

Abstract

The effect of 2 different techniques of mother-litter separation on rabbit doe performance was analysed. In the first experiment, executed in a commercial rabbitry, multiparous lactating hybrid does were successively artificially inseminated (620 Al) while in the second, a flock of 100 nulliparous was followed (524 Al). Does Nere submitted to one of the following treatments: control no treatment; 24 hours of mother-litter separation, 3 days before Al, with 2 different procedures: closing the nestbox (Experiment 1) and change of caga (Experiment 2). AH the does were inseminated 11 days after kindling. Mother-litter separation did not significantly affect reproductiva results while, as expected, sexual receptivity and physiological status strongly influenced it. Probably longar stimuli are necessary to induce oestrus, particularly when does are in lactation. Nulliparous and multiparous non-lactating does showed a significant positiva reaction to biostimulation (Experiment 2 - gain of fertillty rata: 12.9% and 14.0%, respectively).