ABSTRACT

In the past, artificial insemination has been used to improve the reproductive performance of animals and has great potential in rabbit production. However, the use of taxidermy dummies to collect rabbit semen is not as popular as the use of locally assembled artificial vaginas. Therefore, this study was conducted to compare the quality of semen collected using the locally assembled artificial vagina (LAV) with that collected using the taxidermy dummy.

Two mature bucks were housed separately in a completely randomized design. Locally assembled artificial vagina (AV) and taxidermy dummy were used to collect two semen samples from each buck over a period of five days. A total of four samples were collected and analyzed.

The results showed that the viscosity, color, odor, and individual motility of all samples were the same. The liquefaction time was later for the LAV than for the taxidermy dummy. The mass motility of semen collected with both AVs was the same. However, the volume and concentration of the semen collected were significantly higher (p < 0.05) for the LAV at 0.5 ml and 420.04 x 10^6 respectively. Although there was a slight difference in the quality of both semen, the semen collected using the taxidermy dummy was within the acceptable range.

In conclusion, the locally assembled artificial vagina is a better method for collecting semen from rabbits than the taxidermy dummy, as it produces a higher volume and concentration of semen.