RT Journal Article
T1 Three decades of progress in artificial insemination in rabbit farming: a review
A1 Quintela Arias, Luis Ángel
A1 Becerra González, Juan José
A1 Peña Martínez, Ana Isabel
A1 Yáñez, Uxía
A1 Rodríguez Villamayor, Paula
A1 Sánchez Quinteiro, Pablo
A1 Martínez Portela, Paulino
A1 García Herradón, Pedro José
K1 Rabbit
K1 Reproduction
K1 Biostimulation
K1 Induction of ovulation
AB The commercial use of artificial insemination (AI) in rabbit farming is relatively recent, especially when compared to other species such as cattle or swine, in which AI has been used for more than 60 years. The large-scale use of AI in rabbit farming dates back to the late 80s. However, despite its short journey, it has not stopped evolving. Although there have been numerous changes, in this review article we aim to highlight two important milestones in optimisation of this technique: the introduction of biostimulation and the addition of Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) analogues to the seminal dose to induce ovulation. In the former case, by means of different methods of biostimulation, such as feed and light flushing and/or separation of the litter in the days prior to AI, the use of hormones to synchronise heat with the moment of AI was practically eliminated. Nowadays, the possibility of using pheromones with the same objective is under research, even to increase ovulation rate or improve semen production. Although there are pheromones on the market labelled for use in other species, in the case of rabbit the knowledge of them is limited. Nevertheless, given the verified effects that pheromones produce in other animals, expectations are high. In the latter case, after several attempts by using other methods, the technique commonly used to induce ovulation was the intramuscular administration of GnRH or its synthetic analogues. However, in recent years, it has been proven that administration of GnRH through the vagina is possible, added to the seminal dose, which offers numerous advantages regarding health, animal welfare and the workforce needed. Recently, the European Medicines Agency (EMA) approved this practice, so in the near future it will probably become the most widely used method. Even so, there is still room for improvement, as the dosage of GnRH needed is higher than the one administered intramuscularly. Research on this topic allows us to predict that this problem should be solved in the coming years. Other alternatives such as the β-Nerve Growth Factor need further research to become a feasible option.
PB Universitat Politècnica de València
SN 1257-5011
YR 2023
FD 2023-06-30
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/38976
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/38976
LA eng
NO Quintela L.A., Becerra J.J., Peña A.I., Yáñez U., Villamayor P.R., Sánchez-Quinteiro P., Martínez P., Herradón P.G. 2023. Three decades of progress in artificial insemination in rabbit farming: a review. World Rabbit Sci., 31: 93-107. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2023.18661
NO Xunta de Galicia Grant numbers 1999/CG321 AND 200/CG3425
NO Ministerio de Ciencia e Innovación Proyecto Ref. PID2021-127814OB-I00
NO Xunta de Galicia Grant numbers Predoctoral Contract Ref. 2020/122 and ED481A-2020/491430
DS Minerva
RD 3 may 2026