Effect Of Re-Breeding Interval On The Reproductive Efficiency Of Doe Rabbit

ABSTRACT

An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of re-mating interval on the

reproductive efficiency of rabbits (doe). The experiment was designed to test two re-mating

intervals - 14 and 21 days interval to determine the most suitable for the following traits body

weight changes during pregnancy, litter weight, litter size, still birth, body weight before

weaning, weaning weight and body weight after weaning. Twenty-five (25) matured does and

five (5) matured bucks of different breeds were used in this experiment. The does were

distributed into two (2) treatments with thirteen (13) does at 14 days treatment and twelve

( 12) does in 21 days treatment. The data collected on the parameters were subjected to

statistical analysis using S.A.S package. The result obtained shows that the weekly mean of

does mated were higher in 21 days treatment compared to does at 14 days treatment.

However, the result shows that for number of kits born alive and dead, litter size at birth, litter

weight at birth, mortality before weaning and weaning days, 14 days treatment is higher than

21 days treatment. From this result, it can be concluded that Does on 21 days rebreeding

interval performed better than Does on 14 days due to proper physiological development or

the Does which reduces the death of kits and farmers can adopt this to maximize rabbit

productivity if efforts are made to reduce the number of still birth and mortality before weaning of young rabbits.