Influence of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin on the Fertility Rate in Artificially Inseminated Rabbit Does

Abstract

An experiment was carried out on the influence of human chorionic gonadotropin hormone (hCG) on the fertility rate of rabbit does under artificial insemination. The rabbit does (7-8 months old) were used for the trial. The hCG was administered to the rabbit does at varying doses: 0, 50, 100 and 150 I.U representing treatments 1 (control), 2, 3 and 4, respectively. Twenty four does were randomly allotted to the four treatments with six does per treatment in a completely randomised design and the study lasted 5 weeks. The does were inseminated with semen harvested from proven bucks. The results showed that does on 0 and 50 I.U hCG had 0% conception rate, while does on 100 and 150 I.U hCG showed 16.67% conception rate. This implies that hCG at 50 i.u was not enough to initiate ovulation in rabbit does. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in the weight of doe after parturition, gestation length and litter size among the treatments. Total Litter weight and average litter weight were significant (p<0.05) higher in does administered 150 I.U hCG than those treated with 100 I.U. This study suggested that hCG induced ovulation and influenced the fertility rate of rabbit does when administered with at least 100 I.U to artificially inseminated rabbit does.

Keywords: Human chorionic gonadotropin, Conception rate, Rabbit, artificial insemination