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EMBRYONIC MORTALITY IN THE POST-PARTURIENT DOMESTIC RABBIT

Embryonic mortality in domestic rabbits ovulating in response to post-partum matings was investigated initially by Hammond (1925). In non-suckling does or does with small litters, pregnancies were successfully established soon after parturition and mortality appeared to be at a normal level. In does suckling larger litters, however, there was a high incidence of embryonic mortality especially in the early postimplantation period and this was associated with luteal regression. The elevated mortality may have resulted from an inadequate plane of nutrition resulting in reduced FSH secretion and follicular development, associated with luteal regression and absorption of embryos (Adams, 1967). The fertility of post-partum matings has been more recently investigated in Dutch Belted (DB) and Large Albino (LA) strains of rabbits (Foxcroft & Hasnain, 1973) and the levels of embryonic mortality in