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Productivity and Progesterone Profile of Nulliparous and Second-Parous Rabbits Characterized by Low and High Litter Size

Received: 1 October 2022    Accepted: 29 October 2022    Published: 10 November 2022
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Abstract

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the litter size (LS) category on the reproductive performance of nulliparous (NP) and second-parous (SP) NZW rabbits and the performance of their offspring. A total of 39 NP and 33 SP doe rabbits were divided into low (LLS, <7) and high (HLS, ≥7) after parturition. Reproductive measurements of each LS category and doe type were determined. The results show LS of 3-8 and 4-10 NP and SP, respectively. Doe rabbits with 6 LS show the highest distribution. Doe body weight at mating and from mating to parturition was higher (P<0.0001) for HLS than LLS, and SP than NP. Kit weight at birth and weaning, LS and viability were higher in HLS than in LLS does. At weaning, LS was higher (P<0.0001) in SP than NP. Levels of P4 at mid-pregnancy (P<0.001) were higher in HLS than in LLS, and in SP than in NP. In conclusion, a high litter size category (≥7/doe) was obtained from heavier NP or SP doe rabbits (LBW around 3 kg) and from second-parous compared with nulliparous does, with near similarity in conception rate of does. Weight and viability rate at birth and weaning as well as plasma progesterone level at mid-pregnancy were higher for does with high than low litter size category. In conclusion, body weight and parity may have a significant role in improving the litter size of doe rabbits, which may be useful in breeding and managerial programs to increase the economic value of rabbit production.

Published in Advances in Applied Physiology (Volume 7, Issue 2)
DOI 10.11648/j.aap.20220702.13
Page(s) 34-41
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2024. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Litter Size, Progesterone, Pregnancy, Rabbit, Viability

References
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Cite This Article
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    Mohamed Abdel-Fatah Abo-Farw, Wael Mohamed Nagy, Sherief Mohamed Zayed, George Ezaat Younan, Rehab Fawzy Ismail. (2022). Productivity and Progesterone Profile of Nulliparous and Second-Parous Rabbits Characterized by Low and High Litter Size. Advances in Applied Physiology, 7(2), 34-41. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aap.20220702.13

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    ACS Style

    Mohamed Abdel-Fatah Abo-Farw; Wael Mohamed Nagy; Sherief Mohamed Zayed; George Ezaat Younan; Rehab Fawzy Ismail. Productivity and Progesterone Profile of Nulliparous and Second-Parous Rabbits Characterized by Low and High Litter Size. Adv. Appl. Physiol. 2022, 7(2), 34-41. doi: 10.11648/j.aap.20220702.13

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    AMA Style

    Mohamed Abdel-Fatah Abo-Farw, Wael Mohamed Nagy, Sherief Mohamed Zayed, George Ezaat Younan, Rehab Fawzy Ismail. Productivity and Progesterone Profile of Nulliparous and Second-Parous Rabbits Characterized by Low and High Litter Size. Adv Appl Physiol. 2022;7(2):34-41. doi: 10.11648/j.aap.20220702.13

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  • @article{10.11648/j.aap.20220702.13,
      author = {Mohamed Abdel-Fatah Abo-Farw and Wael Mohamed Nagy and Sherief Mohamed Zayed and George Ezaat Younan and Rehab Fawzy Ismail},
      title = {Productivity and Progesterone Profile of Nulliparous and Second-Parous Rabbits Characterized by Low and High Litter Size},
      journal = {Advances in Applied Physiology},
      volume = {7},
      number = {2},
      pages = {34-41},
      doi = {10.11648/j.aap.20220702.13},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aap.20220702.13},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.aap.20220702.13},
      abstract = {This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the litter size (LS) category on the reproductive performance of nulliparous (NP) and second-parous (SP) NZW rabbits and the performance of their offspring. A total of 39 NP and 33 SP doe rabbits were divided into low (LLS, <7) and high (HLS, ≥7) after parturition. Reproductive measurements of each LS category and doe type were determined. The results show LS of 3-8 and 4-10 NP and SP, respectively. Doe rabbits with 6 LS show the highest distribution. Doe body weight at mating and from mating to parturition was higher (P<0.0001) for HLS than LLS, and SP than NP. Kit weight at birth and weaning, LS and viability were higher in HLS than in LLS does. At weaning, LS was higher (P<0.0001) in SP than NP. Levels of P4 at mid-pregnancy (P<0.001) were higher in HLS than in LLS, and in SP than in NP. In conclusion, a high litter size category (≥7/doe) was obtained from heavier NP or SP doe rabbits (LBW around 3 kg) and from second-parous compared with nulliparous does, with near similarity in conception rate of does. Weight and viability rate at birth and weaning as well as plasma progesterone level at mid-pregnancy were higher for does with high than low litter size category. In conclusion, body weight and parity may have a significant role in improving the litter size of doe rabbits, which may be useful in breeding and managerial programs to increase the economic value of rabbit production.},
     year = {2022}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Productivity and Progesterone Profile of Nulliparous and Second-Parous Rabbits Characterized by Low and High Litter Size
    AU  - Mohamed Abdel-Fatah Abo-Farw
    AU  - Wael Mohamed Nagy
    AU  - Sherief Mohamed Zayed
    AU  - George Ezaat Younan
    AU  - Rehab Fawzy Ismail
    Y1  - 2022/11/10
    PY  - 2022
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aap.20220702.13
    DO  - 10.11648/j.aap.20220702.13
    T2  - Advances in Applied Physiology
    JF  - Advances in Applied Physiology
    JO  - Advances in Applied Physiology
    SP  - 34
    EP  - 41
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2471-9714
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.aap.20220702.13
    AB  - This study aimed to evaluate the effect of the litter size (LS) category on the reproductive performance of nulliparous (NP) and second-parous (SP) NZW rabbits and the performance of their offspring. A total of 39 NP and 33 SP doe rabbits were divided into low (LLS, <7) and high (HLS, ≥7) after parturition. Reproductive measurements of each LS category and doe type were determined. The results show LS of 3-8 and 4-10 NP and SP, respectively. Doe rabbits with 6 LS show the highest distribution. Doe body weight at mating and from mating to parturition was higher (P<0.0001) for HLS than LLS, and SP than NP. Kit weight at birth and weaning, LS and viability were higher in HLS than in LLS does. At weaning, LS was higher (P<0.0001) in SP than NP. Levels of P4 at mid-pregnancy (P<0.001) were higher in HLS than in LLS, and in SP than in NP. In conclusion, a high litter size category (≥7/doe) was obtained from heavier NP or SP doe rabbits (LBW around 3 kg) and from second-parous compared with nulliparous does, with near similarity in conception rate of does. Weight and viability rate at birth and weaning as well as plasma progesterone level at mid-pregnancy were higher for does with high than low litter size category. In conclusion, body weight and parity may have a significant role in improving the litter size of doe rabbits, which may be useful in breeding and managerial programs to increase the economic value of rabbit production.
    VL  - 7
    IS  - 2
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt

  • Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt

  • Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt

  • Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt

  • Animal Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt

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