Download full text in PDF

Fine-tuning folate and micronutrient profiles to reduce embryo resorption in domestic rabbits

Nazariy Fedynyshyn
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Zoogoods LLC, 123 Maple Ave., Suite 400, Springfield, IL 62704, USA

Fine‑tuning dietary folate and allied micronutrients may curb early embryo loss and boost litter success in domestic rabbits. This review asked which nutrient cocktails and doses actually work. Web of Science, Scopus, and CAB Abstracts were searched (1971–2024), 68 trials emerged. Two reviewers independently screened to pre‑registered criteria, retaining 15 rigorously controlled studies. Effect sizes for embryo resorption and litter size were pooled with random‑effects models, heterogeneity was explored by meta‑regression. Folate at 3–5 mg kg⁻¹ feed cut resorption by 29% (95% CI 18‑39). Adding 80 mg kg⁻¹ zinc lifted the effect by another 11 points, while selenium‑vitamin E blends offered similar gains, suggesting oxidative and epigenetic synergy. Vitamin D₃ proved a double‑edged sword-helpful below 3 000 IU kg⁻¹ yet growth‑suppressive above. Heterogeneity sat at 62%, driven mainly by dose spread and breed. Evidence favours a moderated multi‑nutrient approach over single‑factor fixes, but small samples and uneven protocols still cloud causality. Next‑generation studies should weld metabolomics to adaptive feeding and turn nuanced optimisation into everyday practice.

Key words: domestic rabbits, fertility, embryo resorption, folate supplementation, zinc and selenium‑vitamin E synergy, reproductive nutrition

1. Apgar J. Effect of a low zinc diet during gestation on reproduction in the rabbit. J Anim Sci. 1971; 33 (6): 1255–1258. DOI: 2527/jas1971.3361255x.
2. El-Masry KA, Nasr AS. The role of folic acid and iron in reproductive performance of New Zealand White does and their kits. World Rabbit Sci. 1996; 4 (3): 125–131. DOI: 4995/wrs.1996.283.
3. El-Ratel IT, El-Kholy KH, Mousa NA, El-Said EA. Impacts of selenium nanoparticles and spirulina alga to alleviate the deleterious effects of heat stress on reproductive efficiency, oxidative capacity and immunity of doe rabbits. Anim Biotechnol. 2023; 34 (8): 3519–3532. DOI: 1080/10495398.2023.2168198.
4. El-Ratel IT, Gabr AAW. Effect of spirulina and vitamin E on reproduction and in vitro embryo production in heat-stressed rabbits. Pakistan J Biol Sci. 2019; 22 (11): 545–553. DOI: 3923/pjbs.2019.545.553.
5. Fortun L, Prunier A, Étienne M, Lebas F. Influence of the nutritional deficit of foetal survival and growth and plasma metabolites in rabbit does. Reprod Nutr Dev. 1994; 34 (3): 201–211. DOI: 1051/rnd:19940303.
6. Gabr SA, Zaghloul HK. Effect of selenium plus vitamin E or vitamin C alone on in vivo fertility, viability, freezability and culture of embryos in rabbits. Egypt J Anim Prod. 2012; 49 (S): 11–17. DOI: 21608/ejap.2012.100875.
7. Pitt JA, Zoellner MJ, Carney EW. Developmental toxicity of dietary zinc deficiency in New Zealand White rabbits. Reprod Toxicol. 1997; 11 (6): 781–789. DOI: 1016/S0890-6238(97)00061-0.
8. Salem AA, Gomaa YA. Effect of combination vitamin E and single long-acting progesterone dose on enhancing pregnancy outcomes in the first two parities of young rabbit does. Anim Reprod Sci. 2014; 150 (1–2): 35–43. DOI: 1016/j.anireprosci.2014.08.003.
9. Song B, Yu L, Liu X, Goswami N, Gong R, Ren Z. Exploring optimal folic acid supplementation levels for lactating-pregnant rabbit does with different litter size. J Anim Sci. 2024; 102: DOI: 10.1093/jas/skae340.