Unit ADE - Reproductive management in rabbit farm
- Course
- Veterinary medicine
- Study-unit Code
- A000685
- Location
- PERUGIA
- Curriculum
- In all curricula
- Teacher
- Gabriele Brecchia
- Teachers
-
- Gabriele Brecchia
- Hours
- 25 ore - Gabriele Brecchia
- CFU
- 1
- Course Regulation
- Coorte 2022
- Offered
- 2026/27
- Learning activities
- A scelta dello studente
- Area
- A scelta dello studente
- Sector
- VET/02
- Type of study-unit
- Opzionale (Optional)
- Type of learning activities
- Attività formativa monodisciplinare
- Language of instruction
- Italian
- Contents
- The course provides knowledge on the reproductive physiology of both male and female rabbits, the factors that most commonly affect the reproductive performance of this species, and the management techniques used to improve fertility and productivity in rabbit farming. The course also presents the instructor's research activities in this field.
- Reference texts
- "Recent advances in rabbit science" edited by L. Maertens and P. Coudert ILVO 2006
The Biology of the Laboratory Rabbit
2nd Edition - April 25, 2014 Editors: Patrick J. Manning, Daniel H. Ringler, Christian E. Newcomer
A Complete Practice Guide to Rabbit Medicine and Production. Editors:
João Simões, José M. Monteiro, 2024 - Educational objectives
- The course focuses on the rabbit, an animal species that is generally given limited attention in Veterinary Medicine degree programmes, with the aim of strengthening students' theoretical and practical knowledge of reproductive management in this species.
In accordance with the educational objectives of the Degree Programme (SUA A4.a) and the identified professional profiles (SUA A2.a), the learning outcomes of the course Reproductive Management in Rabbit Farming are as follows:
D1. Knowledge and Understanding
Students will acquire advanced knowledge of rabbit reproductive physiology and reproductive herd management, expanding their understanding of the biological and managerial aspects of reproduction in this species.
D2. Applying Knowledge and Understanding
Students will be able to:
evaluate the oestrous cycle and sexual receptivity of female rabbits;
assess Body Condition Score (BCS), nutritional status, and animal welfare;
perform blood sampling for hormonal analyses;
understand and apply the principles of artificial insemination and natural mating in rabbits.
D3. Making Judgements
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
perform all appropriate assessments required to improve reproductive management in rabbit production systems;
critically analyse and solve the reproductive management problems that may arise in commercial rabbit farms.
D4. Communication Skills
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
use appropriate scientific and technical terminology to describe the principles, practices, and challenges of reproductive management in rabbits.
D5. Learning Skills
Upon completion of the course, students will be able to:
critically consult and evaluate the available scientific literature to further develop their knowledge;
identify and propose evidence-based strategies for solving reproductive management problems in rabbit farming. - Prerequisites
- Students are expected to have a basic knowledge of:
anatomy and physiology of domestic animals;
reproductive physiology and veterinary endocrinology;
principles of animal husbandry and animal welfare;
basic animal handling and restraint techniques;
animal nutrition and livestock management.
Students are also recommended to have successfully completed courses in Anatomy, Physiology, Animal Reproduction, Animal Nutrition, and Animal Husbandry - Teaching methods
- The course is organised over five consecutive days, for a total of 25 hours, and consists of the following components:
Theoretical sessions, providing and expanding students' knowledge of the anatomical and physiological characteristics of rabbits, with particular emphasis on their reproductive system and reproductive physiology.
Practical training on a commercial rabbit farm, including semen collection and evaluation; assessment of female sexual receptivity and the oestrous cycle; artificial insemination and natural mating techniques; pregnancy diagnosis by abdominal palpation; blood sampling for hormonal analyses; and assessment of Body Condition Score (BCS) and the animal's nutritional status. - Learning verification modality
- There is no final examination for this course. Student performance is assessed through continuous evaluation of both knowledge acquisition and practical application of the topics covered. Assessment focuses on students' ability to apply reproductive management principles in rabbit production systems and on the acquisition of practical competencies in rabbit reproduction.
- Extended program
- Lecture 1: Course introduction; rabbit farming and rabbit meat consumption worldwide, in Europe and in Italy; general anatomy and physiology of the rabbit; and rabbit production systems.
Lecture 2: Reproductive physiology of the doe.
Lecture 3: Reproductive physiology of the buck.
Lecture 4: Basic reproductive management techniques, rabbit behaviour (ethology), and animal welfare.
Lecture 5: Practical training on a commercial rabbit farm.