REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF CROSSBRED RABBIT DOES (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS) FED DIETARY ASCORBIC ACID SUPPLEMENTATION

Abstract

Effect of dietary ascorbic acid supplementation was investigated on reproductive performance of crossbred rabbit does (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in a 13-week feeding trial. A total of 30 matured rabbit does of 18 to 20 weeks old with average weight of 2.75 kg were used. Ascorbic acid was included in the diets of the rabbits at levels of 0 (control), 100, 200, 300 and 400 mg/kg feed. The rabbits were randomly allotted to the diets (n=6 rabbits/treatments and housed individually. All data were subjected to general linear model while the significant differences in means were separated using pairwise-difference. The results showed that rabbit does fed dietary ascorbic acid supplementation (200, 300 and 400 mg/kg diet) had significantly (P<0.05) higher litter size (6.25-8.29 vs. 4.48-6.00) and litter weight (400.00-5850.33 g vs. 300.00-3870.50 g) than their counterparts fed the control diet. However, does fed dietary ascorbic acid supplementation had significantly (P<0.05) lower total kit mortality (14.58, 20.53, 13.77 vs. 27.28%) compared to their counterparts fed the control diet. The
results of this study suggest that feed grade ascorbic acid supplementation at 200, 300 and 400 mg ascorbic acid/kg diet could improve litter performance of rabbit does.