Effect of Combined eCG and Testosterone Enanthate (TE) Hormonal Treatments on Litter Size and Kit Weight in Rabbits
Rebaz Ramadhan Abdulrahman
Department of Technical Veterinary, Bakrajo Technical Institute, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Iraq.
Zhala Shabandar Qadir
Department of Technical Veterinary, Bakrajo Technical Institute, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Iraq.
Mahir Essa Alsalihi *
Medical Laboratory Technology Department, Kifri Technical Institute, Garmian Polytechnic University, Iraq.
Darya Shorsh Hamad
Department of Anesthesia, College of Health Sciences, Cihan University Sulaimaniya, Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan, Iraq.
Imad Majeed Noori
Department of Nursing, Technical College of Health and Medical Technology, Sulaimani Polytechnic University, Sulaymaniyah, Iraq.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Hormonal interventions significantly influence pre-weaning litter characteristics in rabbits. This study looked at how different amounts of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG: 10-20 IU) and testosterone enanthate (TE: 4-8 IU) affected the number of kits (KN) and their weight (KW) in local breed rabbits that were mixed-mated. 96 ninety-six rabbits (48 bucks, 48 does) were allocated to control (untreated/PBS), low-dose (10 IU eCG, 4 IU TE), and high-dose (20 IU eCG, 8 IU TE) groups. Treatments were administered 48 h pre-mating, with reproductive performance evaluated over two parities. The 20 IU eCG + TE groups significantly increased KN (8.89±0.00 vs. 2.44 ± 0.50 controls, p ≤ 0.05) and KW (478.58 g at 7 days). Second-parity improvements suggest uterine adaptation. Optimal outcomes occurred at intermediate doses (20 IU eCG + 4-8 IU TE), avoiding high-dose negative effects observed in prior studies. These protocols enhance commercial rabbit productivity while maintaining kit weight.
Keywords: Rabbit reproduction, ECG, testosterone, litter size, kit weight, hormonal