The Effect of Different Re-mating Time after Parturition on the Haematology of Doe Rabbits
Keywords:
Doe rabbitAbstract
The field experiments for this research were carried out at the rabbitary of the Teaching and Research Farm, College of Agricultural Sciences, Olabisi Onabanjo University, Yewa Campus, Ayetoro. Laboratory investigations were carried out at the Animal Nutrition and Physiology Laboratory, of the University. One hundred and eight New Zealand White × Chinchilla Does were subjected to three postpartum re-mating time-periods in two seasons. Blood samples were collected at 2, 10 and 20 days post coitum for haematological assay. All haematological indices examined were not significantly (P>0.05) affected by postpartum remating time-period. Seasonal variation in haematological values were equally not significantly (P>0.05) different. The results of this research has demonstrated that concurrent pregnancy and lactation occasioned by early rebreeding in the Doe rabbit does not place a stress on the Does’ internal physiology at least in the short term.
Keywords: , re-mating time postpartum, haematology, season
References
Awojobi, H. A., Opiah, G. O. and Sotuminu, G. (2004). The effect of physiological status on nutrient digestibility and some blood parameters of the New Zealand White doe rabbit. Journal of Agric, Forestry and the Social Sciences 2 (2):95-103.
Esonu B. O., Emenalom O. O., Ededibe A. B. I., Herbert U., Ekpor C. F., Okolie I. C.andIheukwumere, F. C. (2001). Performance and blood chemistry of weaner pigs fed raw mucuna (vlvet bean). Tropical Animal Production Investigations, 4:49-54.
Food and Agricultural Organisation (1957). Production Year Book.
Hudson, R., Schaal, B., Bilko, A. and Altabacker, V. (1996). Just three minutes a day, the behaviour of young rabbits viewed in the context of limited maternal care. Proceedings of the 6th World Rabbit Congress, Toulouse 2:395-403.
Iyeghe-Erakpotobor, G. T. Oyedipe E. O., Eduvie L. O., Ogwu D. and Olorunju, S. A. S. (2002). Effect of doe physiological state on nutrient digestibility of rabbits. Proceedings of the 7th Annual Conference of Animal Science Association of Nigeria. 21-23.
Jain, N. C. (1986). Schalms Veterinary haematology 4th ed. Lea and Febiger, Philadelphia.
Kim J. C., Yun H. I., Cha S. W., Kim K. H., Koh W. S. and Chung, M. K. (2002). Haematological changes during normal pregnancy in New Zealand White Rabbits: A longitudinal study. Comparative Clinical Pathology 11(2):98-106.
Kozma C., Macklin W., Cummins L. and Mauer, R. (1974). Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry of the rabbit. : The Biology of the laboratory rabbit. Weisbroth, S. H., Hatt R. E. and Krims A. C. Eds. Academic Press, New York. 49-71
Kriesten K., Murawaski U. and Schmidtmann, W. (1987). Haematological values during normal reproduction of the maternal and the fetal rabbit. Comp. Biochem Physiol. 87(2):479-485.
LaBorde J. B. Wall K. S., Bulon B., Kumpe T. S., Patton R., Zheng Q. Kodell R. and Young, J. F. (1999). Haematology and serum chemistry parameters of the pregnant rat. Lab. Anim. 33(3):275-287.
Mitruka, B. M. and Rawnsley, H. M. (1977). Clinical Biochemical and Haematological Reference Values in Normal Experimental Animals. 1st ed Masson Publishing U.S.A.
Onakomaiya S. O., Oyesiku K. A. and Jegede, S. J. (1992). Ogun State in Maps. 1st ed. Rex Charles Publications, Ibadan.
Rastogi, B. C. (1976). Essentials of Animal Physiology. 3rd ed. Wiley Eastern Ltd. New Delhi.
SAS Institute (1999). SAS/STAT Users guide, version 6. 11. 5th ed. Vol. 2 Statistical Analysis System Institute Inc. Cary N. C.
