TITLE:
Reproductive Physiology of Male Rabbits: A Key Factor in Buck Selection for Breeding (Paper Review)
AUTHORS:
Chikaodiri H. Onuoha
KEYWORDS:
Rabbit Buck, Reproduction, Anatomy, Morphological Structure, Physiology, Breeding
JOURNAL NAME:
Advances in Reproductive Sciences,
Vol.8 No.2,
March
31,
2020
ABSTRACT: Rabbits are unique animals found in many different continents and climatic zones. Domestic rabbits are the descendants of Oryctolagus cuniculus, a species native to the western Mediterranean basin (Spain and North Africa) and it is said to have originated from the European wild rabbit. Rabbits have been used as experimental animals in genetics and breeding since the beginning of the century. Rabbit bucks are ready for reproduction at 32 weeks of age when sperm production is known to have stabilized. Lack of detailed information about the anatomy and morphological structures of rabbit bucks, their reproductive organs and its physiology, hampers the reproductive index in multiplication and breeding of rabbits. This review is centered on gathering relevant information about the morphology and reproductive physiology of rabbit bucks with emphasis on showing some aspects relating to their sexual maturity, occurrence of puberty, reproductive distinctiveness, seminal characteristics, number, size of glands and their location, sperm production and Spermatogenesis for a better breeding purpose.