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Rabbits of three reproductive stages were evaluated for their reproductive superiority during peak thermal comfort in Ibadan, southwest Nigeria. Within rabbit population in the study area, bucks were categorized into age groups from the parity records of the farm. Pubertal rabbits (4-5 months old), Mature rabbits (7-9 months old), Adult rabbits (above 1-year-old). Animals were housed individually and allotted randomly into experimental units. This investigation was carried out within February and March when the average daily temperature humidity index (THI) is at the peak. Thirty rabbit bucks per age group, housed individually and randomly allotted to experimental units were used for this study. All bucks were made to serve an artificial vagina, libido was evaluated, and semen collected were assessed for semen characteristics, seminal biochemical and oxidative stress indices weekly from the ninth week. The result obtained revealed that mature bucks had significantly (p |
