EFFECTS OF GENOTYPE AND SEX OF KITS ON LITTER SIZE AND POST WEANING WEIGHT GAINS OF CROSSBRED RABBITS

Abstract

Heterosis continues to form the basis for adoption of crossbreeding programs in the improvement of commercial rabbit industry in Nigeria. To further improve on it, this study evaluated the effect of sex of kits and parents’ genotypes on litter size and post weaning weight gains of pure and local crossbred rabbits. A total of thirty six (36) parent stock rabbits consisting of six (6) pure breed bucks (2 each of Chinchilla, Dutch and New Zealand White) and thirty mixed local population of does were used as base population. A mating ratio of 1:5 buck to does was used. After kindling, data were collected on litter size, litter weight at birth and body weight gains of different sexes across 4, 8, 12,16 and 20 weeks. Data derived were subjected to analysis of variance for statistical analysis as described for Completely Randomized Design. Significant means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test (DMRT). Results obtained reveals that while buck genotype had no significant effect (P>0.05) on the litter size at birth, the litter weight at birth was significantly different (p<0.05). Also, the result indicates that at the initial stages of our study (4-8 weeks), the progressive weekly body weight gain were the same across the crossbreds but was significantly different (p<0.05) at the latter stages (8-20 weeks) with NZxLC cross performing better. In conclusion, following our present findings, we can recommend that local breeds of rabbit should be crossed with New Zealand white rabbit bucks for improved post weaning weight gains.