Artificial insemination of rabbits: current state and practical possibilities of the method

 Relevance. Rabbits have great reproductive and productive potential. In the industrial (conveyor) system of rabbit production, the brood stock of the rabbit farm is divided into production groups and artificially inseminated on a strictly fixed day of the week on the 4th or (more often) 11th day of lactation. Only clinically healthy and well-fed females are allowed to insemination. It is shown that with an intensive rate of reproduction of the  herd from one rabbit, it is possible to receive from 40...55 to 60...65 weaned rabbits and produce up to 120 kg of rabbit meat annually.

Methods. The technological processes and practical possibilities of the method of artificial insemination of rabbits are considered and analyzed.

Results. Work on artificial insemination of rabbits is carried out in the  following order: collecting semen from the bucks, assessing the quality of ejaculate, diluting and short-term storing sperm in vitro, stimulating sexual activity and diagnosing the sexual receptivity of suckling female rabbits, intravaginal insemination of does with hormonal induction of ovulation. Sperm from male rabbits is obtained on a receptive female with the help of an artificial vagina: two ejaculates collected once a week with an interval of at least 15 min. The process of collecting semen on an artificial vagina takes average 26.2 seconds. After macro-and microscopic evaluation, the ejaculate is diluted 1:5...1:10 with a medium based on Tris-or Hepes-buffer. For dilution and short-term storage of sperm directly in the farm environment (up to 24...48 hours), ready-to-use commercial extenders are also used (for example, Lepus®, Cortalap®, Merk III®, Formula® etc.). The selection of rabbits for insemination is carried out according to the signs of estrus and sexual reaction of the female to the male. 48 hours before the planned insemination, all suckling rabbits of the production group are injected with  the gonadotropic drug folligon (at a dose of 20 IU). Exogenous gonadotropic stimulation induces cyclic growth of follicles, synchronizes the manifestation of sexual activity in rabbits of the production group, improves reproductive efficiency of rabbit does in term of fecundity (fertility and prolificacy). The technique of artificial insemination of rabbits is quite simple. Using a semi-automatic syringe with a removable disposable sterile catheter, sperm is inserted deeply into the rabbit vagina in a volume of 0.5 ml. With an effective organization of work, an insemination technician and an assistant can inseminate up to 150 female rabbits in 1 hour (with simultaneous hormonal induction of ovulation).Good results, almost as with natural insemination, are obtained when using freshly obtained diluted or diluted chilled sperm for insemination with a shelf life of up to 6 ... 12 hours. 

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