Effects of CP and TDN levels on spermatogenesis and mounting behavior in rabbits

Ikeda, S.. Faculty of Agriculture; Monji, Y.; Kurihara, Y.; Sukemori, S.

Effects of CP and TDN levels on spermatogenesis and mounting behavior in rabbits

2007

Ikeda, S.(Tokyo Univ. of Agriculture, Atsugi, Kanagawa (Japan). Faculty of Agriculture) | Monji, Y. | Kurihara, Y. | Sukemori, S.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of CP and TDN levels in rabbit diets on mounting behavior and spermatogenesis. In experiment 1, 8 Japanese white rabbits (male), aged about 12 months, were used in evaluating CP (12 and 16%) and TDN (55 and 65%) in two trials. In the first trial under high environmental temperature (26.8+-0.2 deg C) conditions, both groups (the control group, CP 12-TDN 55%, and the experimental group, CP 16-TDN 65%) showed minus body weight gain. Mounting behavior was not observed, therefore semen could not be collected. In the second trial under adapted environmental temperatures (20.2+-0.6 deg C), mounting behavior was recognized in all rabbits without accident and semen was collected. Semen inspected was within the typical range of values for rabbits in the control and experimental groups. In experiment 2, 12 Japanese white rabbits (male), aged about 12 months, were used in evaluating CP and TDN intake. They were classified in to two-groups; the control group was ad libitum fed with CP 12-TDN 55% diet and the experimental group was fed with the same diet of which amount was restricted to 60% of the control. Less nutritional intake induced low body weight gain in the experimental group, while there was a slight change of body weight in the control group. Semen was collected from all animals and was within the typical range of values for rabbits with no significant difference. The present results suggest that body weight decreased with low CP and TDN intake and/or with the increase in environmental temperature; that dietary levels of CP and TDN failed to increase mounting behavior in high environmental temperature conditions; and that spermatogenesis is not affected by the dietary CP and TDN levels in this study.

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