The Role of Artificial Insemination and the Type of Semen Extender in Improving the Reproductively of Female Rabbits during the Hot Summer Season

The study aimed to improve the reproductive performance of female rabbits under the high environmental temperature of the summer season using artificial insemination (AI) techniques as compared with natural mating (NM) and defining the better dilution extender that may be used in AI. 45 virgin female New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits were employed in this study. Female rabbits were distributed to three groups. First, rabbits were mated by natural mating (NM). Groups two and three, rabbits were mated using AI with tris-citrate-glucose extender and citrate-egg yolk extender, respectively. The experiment lasted July and August months beginning from mating directly and continuing during pregnancy and suckling their bunnies till completion the weaning of offspring. Results showed that significant improvement in conception rate (CR), litter number, bunny weight, and litter weight at birth and weaning were observed in the two groups of AI compared with the first group of NM. P4 levels in the two groups of AI were higher significantly than NM at days 15 and 28 after mating, respectively. AI technique with tris-citrate-glucose extender is better than AI technique with citrate-egg yolk extender in the reproductive performance of female rabbits, especially, under the high environmental temperature of the summer season in Egypt. © 2022 Friends Science Publishers