Journal of Research in Agriculture, Volume 7, Number 2, 2010 ISSN: 1597 7994 BREEDING RESPONSE ON RABBIT DOES TO MATING FREQUENCY IN THE HUMID 'J.A. Okejim (M.Sc. Anl, Sci) *P.K. Ajuogu ‘Department of Agricultural Education, Federal College of Education (Technical) Omoku, Rivers State, Nigeria, * Department of Animal Science, Uniport, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria ABSTRACT Thirty-six adult New Zealand White / California crassbred rabbits comprising thirty multiparious does and six bucks were used to determine the effect of multiple mating on breeding performance in rabbit does. The same was used in three mating frequency treatments (of six animals each) with mating done on separate days spread out within a week. The mating procedure entailed ‘mating once a day (4, - control). Twice per day (B) and thrice per day (C). This implies that a Particular buck assigned to each treatment performed all the matings meant for that day or ‘mreaiment. Data on mean conception rate. Pseudo-pregnancy and mean liter size (livebirths) differed significantly (p<0.05) especially between the triple-mated female rabbits (C) and the control group (A). No significant differences (p<0.05) were observed on mean gestation length and mean litter weight. It was concluded that multiple mating or mating frequency may not necessarily have beneficial effect on kindling rates and gestation length in rabbits but it does seem to have a favourable impact on conception rates, Liter size and the prevention of pseudo. pregnancy under humid tropical weather condition of Southern Nigeria, Keywords: New-Zealand rabbits, pseudo-pregnaney, mating frequency. INTRODUCTION ‘here is a huge potential in raising rabbits as meat animals by virtue oftheir high feed conversion efficiency, reputed fecundity and prolificacy as well as their short generation interval. In spite of these and several other advantages, some limitations do exist particularly with respect to the complex reproductive biology of the female rabbit such as the relatively high incidence of pseudo-pregnaney (Berepubo et al 1993), It ic believed that multiple mating could under tropical breeding conditions reduce occurrence of pseudo pregnancy in rabbits thereby improving their fertility (Fielding 1991), Besides, it has been reported that multiple mating results in conception rates of about 80% as well as large litter size in temperate environments (Bedford 1966). The present investigation was therefore designed to determine the effect of multiple mating on the Feproductive behaviour of does under humid tropical conditions MATERIALS AND METHODS Thirty-Six adult rabbits aged 12-16 months comprising six fertile bucks and thirty does were involved in the study. The female rabbits, some of which had kindled twice and thrice respectively in the past were randomly but equally assigned to three experimental groups of six replicated twice. The bucks were housed Separately except at the time of mating. All the animals received similar (standard) conditions of management / husbandry and housing (Berepubo ct al 1993). Feeding consisted of 100% / day of commercial grower's mash as well as grass (Panicum Maximum) and legume (Centrosema pubescens) both Provided ad libitum. The three selected experimental groups represented three mating frequency treatments (A to C) ~ mating once a day (A: Control), twice a day (B) and thrice a day (C). The same buek was used for mating as needed in a completely randomized design. Individual does were taken to the buck for mating at specific times of the day as appropriate namely; 7-12n0on, 2pm and 5-7pm. If coitus did not take place within 15-20 minutes of introducing the female into the buck’s hutch, the doe was removed and re- introduced later within. a specific period -(30-40mins), Pregnancy. was-tested two weeks posi-coitus. by abdominal palpation and other conventional means (Aduku and Olukosi, 1990). Data on treatment effects for {wo parties on mean conception rate, pseudo-pregnancy, gestation length, kindling rate, litter size and liter weight were recorded and subjected to analysis of variance using F-test. The overall data obtained were then compared on the standard LSD method of pairwise comparison (5% level of significance) (Steel and Torrie 1981). RESULTS All the does involved in the study kindled although not all conceived at first mating, In this respect, kindling rate was slightly different from conception rate in the control group (A) as a result of pseudo-pregnancy, Gestation length varied between 29 and 33 days, with a mean of 30.8 days. The mean gestation length in triple mating was marginally shorter (30 days) than in double mating (30.7 days) and the control (31.7 days) ‘The difference is mean gestation length were therefore not statistically significant (p<0,05), It was also 70