Improvement of Reproductive Performance of Rabbit Does By Hormonal and Acetic Acid Treatment in Hot-Humid Climatic Condition of Bangladesh

This study was carried out with New Zealand cross rabbit to improve the reproductive efficiency of does using hormonal and acetic intra-vaginal washing treatments. Three experiments were conducted from March to September, 2014 in the Rabbit Farm under the Department of Genetics and Animal Breeding at Hajee Mohammad Danesh Science and Technology University, Dinajpur, Bangladesh. Under the experiments the effect of prostaglandin (PGF 2  ) injection, intra-vaginal washing with acetic acid and combination of prostaglandin (PGF 2  ) and Gonadotropin Releasing Hormone (GnRH) injection were observed. The traits: conception rate, litter size (at birth and weaning), litter weight (at birth, at 7, 14, 21 and 28 days of age), mortality rate of kits during the experimental periods were evaluated. PGF 2  injection did not affect conception rate, litter sizeat birth and weaning, litter weight from birth to weaning, kit mortality significantly (P > 0.05). Significant increases (P < 0.05) in conception rate, litter sizeat birth, litter weight from birth to weaning, kit mortality were observed in treatment of intra-vaginal washing with acetic acid. However, the combine use of PGF 2  and GnRH increased conception rate, litter size, litter weight from birth to weaning, kit mortality significantly (P < 0.05).