Abstract

CRUZ-BACAB, Luis Eliezer; RAMIREZ-VERA, Santiago; VAZQUEZ-GARCIA, Marisa del Carmen  and  ZAPATA-CAMPOS, Cecilia Carmela. Reproduction of rabbits under tropical conditions, negative effects and possible solutions. CienciaUAT [online]. 2018, vol.13, n.1, pp.135-145. ISSN 2007-7858.  https://doi.org/10.29059/cienciauat.v13i1.989.

The digestive physiology and reproductive capacity of the rabbit make it a species with potential for meat production. In a temperate climate, its adequate reproductive management allows to obtain between 6 and 10 annual litters per female with 6 up to 12 kits per litter. In tropical areas, heat stress alters metabolism and hormonal function, decreasing their reproductive capacity. In females, the main changes include an increase in the secretion of corticosteroids, modifying the secretion of gonadotropinreleasing hormone (GnRH), stimulating follicle hormone (FSH) and luteinizing hormone (LH), decreasing the growth and follicular development, oocyte quality and ovulation, and with it the number of births and size of litter. In males, libido and ability to mate are affected. In the seminal quality, a decrease of 7.8 % in volume, 7.7 % in concentration, 1.7 % in morphology and 5.5 % in motility is observed. The objective of the present work was to describe the strategies used to reduce the caloric stress. These included regulating the temperature in the facilities, supplementary food, crossing of local breeds with improved breeds, development of genetic lines for tropical climates, implementation of reproductive biotechnologies such as artificial insemination or cryopreservation of semen, improving the reproductive behavior of the rabbit under tropical conditions.

Keywords : tropical conditions; rabbits; heat stress; Oryctolagus cuniculus; reproductive performance.

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