Reproduction Abstracts

Introduction: Selenium deficiency is known to affect negatively the reproductive performance of farm animals including rabbits. This study evaluated the effect of feeding organic selenium (OSe) as dietary supplement on the reproductive performance, oxidative enzyme and gonadotropins status of rabbits does.

Materials and methods: Sixteen female rabbit does of 6 to 7 months of age and weighing between 1.95 to 2.03 kg were assigned to four treatment groups receiving 0.00, 0.15, 0.30 and 0.45 mg/kg of OSe as dietary supplement from mating to end of lactation in a completely randomised design (CRD). Rabbit does in each treatment were house individually in cages. The reproductive and post-partum performance of kits were observed. Oxidative enzyme and gonadotropins status of the does were determined at end of 28 days lactation using standard methods. Data was analysed using ANOVA.

Results and discussion: Gestation length, body weights (BW) of litters and kits at birth were similar (P>0.05). Conception rate, weight gain of does during gestation, litter size at birth and number of stillbirth of rabbit doe were better (P<0.05) for rabbits fed 0.15 and 0.30 mg/kg OSe. Litter size, litter BWs, kits BW and kits BW gain at weaning were higher (P<0.05) for rabbit kits of does fed 0.15 mg/kg OSe. Selenium, malondialdehyde, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione peroxidase status among treatments were different (P<0.05). While FSH levels of does fed Ose differed from the control group, LH levels remained constant (P>0.05). Supplemental feeding of Ose to rabbit does improved the reproductive performances of the dam by enhancing the oxidative enzyme and FSH status of the does.