Substitution of commercial Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotrophin (Gonaser®) by Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn leaves in rabbits breeding: impact on reproductive performance

The current study aims to compare the effect of Synedrella nodiflora (L.) Gaertn and Gonaser on reproductive traits in rabbit do. Then, 60 nulliparous rabbits do and 12 males were divided into 3 lots. In lot 1, the animals hadn’t received any treatment. In lot 2, rabbits do were subjected to hormonal treatment based on subcutaneous injection of Gonaser®. In lot 3, rabbits do were subjected to the sex hormone plant (Synedrella nodiflora leaves) used as feed supplement. It appears that the highest litter size was recorded in lot 3 and lot 2 (P˂0.001) while the highest live weights at birth, at 35 days and at 56 days old were found in lot 1. The greatest average daily gain (32.1 g/day) was recorded in animals of lot 3 (P˂0.01). The fertility rate of lot 2 and lot 3 was respectively 90% and 95%, to 88% in the control lot (P˂0.001). Similarly, the highest kidding rates and the lowest stillborn rate and mortality rate from birth to weaning were recorded in the lots 2 and 3 (P˂0.001). The parturition interval was of 63 days in lot 1 to 45.72 in lot 2 and 45.74 in lot 3 (p<0.001). As found for Gonaser, the main effect of leaves of S. nodiflora is to increase litter size and to reduce kidding interval. Synedrella nodiflora leaves can therefore be used as Pregnant Mare Serum Gonadotrophin supplier in family rabbit breeding to improve reproductive parameters in rabbit does.