Effect of Combined eCG and Testosterone Enanthate (TE) Hormonal Treatments on Litter Size and Kit Weight in Rabbits

Hormonal interventions significantly influence pre-weaning litter characteristics in rabbits. This study looked at how different amounts of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG: 10-20 IU) and testosterone enanthate (TE: 4-8 IU) affected the number of kits (KN) and their weight (KW) in local breed rabbits that were mixed-mated. 96 ninety-six rabbits (48 bucks, 48 does) were allocated to control (untreated/PBS), low-dose (10 IU eCG, 4 IU TE), and high-dose (20 IU eCG, 8 IU TE) groups. Treatments were administered 48 h pre-mating, with reproductive performance evaluated over two parities. The 20 IU eCG + TE groups significantly increased KN (8.89±0.00 vs. 2.44 ± 0.50 controls, p ≤ 0.05) and KW (478.58 g at 7 days). Second-parity improvements suggest uterine adaptation. Optimal outcomes occurred at intermediate doses (20 IU eCG + 4-8 IU TE), avoiding high-dose negative effects observed in prior studies. These protocols enhance commercial rabbit productivity while maintaining kit weight.