SEXUAL BEHAVIOUR AND SEMEN MICROBES IN RABBIT BREEDS RAISED IN A TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT

Abstract

Series of experiments were conducted at the Research Farm of Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi to investigate reaction time to sexual  behavior and sensitivity of semen microbes to antibiotics in Dutch belted and local rabbits. The results showed that intervals from buck introduction to mounting, mounting to pelvic thrusts, pelvic thrusts to ejaculation and total time on teaser were significantly (P<0.05) affected by breed and time of semen collection; favouring Dutch rabbits and morning periods. The bacterial isolates (Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Escherichia coli) were only susceptible to ciproxin, nobactin, nalidixic acid, ampicillin, gentamycin and chloramphenicol while the fungal isolate (Candida stellatoidea) was resistant to all the antibiotics tested. These antibiotics could be used in the control of bacteria in semen samples. It is concluded that the Dutch rabbits are superior to the local breed in terms of their response to training programme for semen collection.