IMPROVEMENT OF REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF RABBIT DOES BY HORMONAL AND ACETIC ACID TREATMENT IN HOT-HUMID CLIMATIC CONDITION OF BANGLADESH

Abstract

This study was carried out with New Zealand (White, Black and Brown) rabbit to improve the reproductive efficiency of does using hormonal and acetic intra-vaginal washing treatments. Three experiments were conducted from March to September, 2014 in the Rabbit Farm under the Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. Under the experiments the effect of prostaglandin (PGF2α) injection, intra-vaginal washing with acetic acid and combination of prostaglandin (PGF2α) and Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) injection were observed. The traits: conception rate, gestation period, litter size (at birth and weaning), litter weight (at birth, at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of age), individual kit weight (at birth, at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of age), mortality rate of kits, live weight gain of rabbit does during the experimental periods were evaluated and post mortem examination of productive and reproductive organs of low fertile and infertile rabbit does were performed. PGF2α (supplied by Techno Drugs Ltd. Bangladesh) injection did not affect conception rate, gestation period, litter size at birth and weaning, litter weight from birth to weaning, individual kit weight from birth to weaning, kit mortality, doe live weight gain. Intra-vaginal washing with acetic acid increased (P<0.05) conception rate, litter size at birth, litter weight from birth to weaning, kit mortality, doe live weight gain. However, the combined use of PGF2α and GnRH (Bayer, New Zealand) increased (P<0.05) conception rate, litter size, litter weight from birth to weaning, individual kit weight from birth to weaning, kit mortality, doe live weight gain.