Semen characteristics and seminal oxidative status of four breeds of rabbit in South west, Nigeria

Abstract Background Within the rabbit population in South West of Nigeria, four exotic breeds of rabbits consisting of Fauve de Bourgogne, Chinchilla, British Spot, and New Zealand White were evaluated for their reproductive response. This investigation was carried out within July and August, when the least temperature-humidity index (THI) (ranged between 23.41 and 25.30) is observed in Ibadan, South West, Nigeria, which depicts the highest thermal comfort in the study area. Thirty bucks per breed, housed individually and randomly allotted to experimental units, were used for this study. All bucks were made to serve an artificial vagina, libido was evaluated, and the collected ejaculates were assessed for semen characteristics, seminal biochemical parameters, and oxidative stress indices weekly for 4 weeks. Two ejaculates per buck were collected weekly. The first ejaculate for spermiogram and the second ejaculate was centrifuged at 4000 rpm for 15 min to separate seminal plasma and used for biochemical analysis using standard procedures. Result The result obtained revealed that sexual urge (reaction time) in the four breeds was similar statistically. British Spot and New Zealand White breeds despite recording a lower semen volume had apparently higher mass motility, individual sperm motility, and significantly higher (P < 0.05) sperm concentration compared with the other breeds. Genetic differences in breeds were evident in most oxidative stress markers, except for the total antioxidant activity of seminal fluid. New Zealand White had the highest antioxidant enzyme activity. Conclusion New Zealand White had the best oxidative status among the four breeds, and this enhanced its semen quality parameters among the rabbit breeds.