Reproductive qualities of rabbits depending on paratypic factors during their maintenance

Experimental studies were conducted on the population of rabbits of the Poltava Silver breed on the basis of the experimental rabbit farm of the Cherkasy Research Station of Bioresources of NAAS. The fertilization ability of rabbit sperm and the features of embryonic and postembryonic development of young animals depending on the season were studied. To assess the main indicators of the microclimate, an Electronic microclimate analyzer “EMA-5” was used. It was established that the concentration of carbon dioxide in the room was within the permissible limits - 970 ppm in winter, 982 ppm - in spring and 1210 ppm - in summer. Atmospheric pressure in all seasons was at the level of 751-754 mm Hg. st. The average daily illumination in the room was 47.5 Lx in winter, 81.5 Lx in spring and 87.8 Lx - in summer, that is, it corresponded to the permissible parameters. The exception was the winter season, during which the average daily light levels were 26.9% lower than the minimum permissible value. The reproductive qualities of rabbits using artificial insemination technology were experimentally studied. In addition, the individual development of the resulting offspring under conditions of maintenance in a capital production facility. Studies of sperm productivity indicators of males and reproductive ability of females depending on paratypic factors showed their seasonal variability. In particular, according to these indicators, the highest sperm productivity of males was observed in the winter period, and the reproductive ability of females was in the spring. The lowest sperm productivity of males was in the summer - during the period of high air temperatures, and the lowest reproductive ability of females - in winter when kept in a capital rabbits without heating. In the process of research, a clear pattern was revealed regarding the gradual decrease in the vast majority of sperm productivity indicators of males and an increase in the reproductive ability of females from winter to summer. The analysis of variance showed a significant influence of the season on the vast majority of the studied indicators ‒ both on the sperm productivity of males and on the reproductive ability of females. Therefore, to increase the production efficiency of industrial farms with a flow system of meat production, it is necessary to plan the reproduction of the herd, taking into account the seasonal variability of the indicators of the reproductive qualities of animals. This applies to the sperm productivity of males in the summer, in particular, it is recommended to increase the volume of insemination of rabbits by at least 10%. In addition, to improve the reproductive ability of females in winter, it is necessary to provide equipment for heating the queen cell of the required power, according to the calculation of the heat balance. To improve the industrial technology of keeping rabbits, it is necessary to additionally study the reproductive qualities of males and females, depending on the season, taking into account the regulatory parameters of the microclimate when kept in cages in a closed room and fed with complete granular feed.