Effect of Interaction Between Different Genotypes of Domestic Rabbits and Two Feeding Regimes on Some Growth Traits

Abstract

Data on 24 weaner rabbits from six different genotypes were used for this study. The genotypes were New Zealand White×New Zealand White (NZ×NZ), Chinchilla×Chinchilla (CH×CH), Dutch×Dutch (DU×DU), New Zealand White × Chinchilla (NZ×CH), New Zealand White × Dutch (NZ×DU) and Chinchilla×Dutch (CH×DU). The 24 weaner rabbits were grouped into two feeding regimes (4 weaner rabbits from each genotype, making a total of 12 in each feeding regime). The feeding regimes consist of ad libitum feeding (A) and 14 hours feed restriction/day (B). The experiment was conducted at the Skills Acquisition and Entrepreneurship Development Centre of National Agricultural Extension Research and Liaison Services (NAERLS), Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria-Nigeria. The growth traits studied were body weight (BW), body length (BL), chest girth (CG), head-to- shoulder(HS), shoulder-to-tail drop (ST), length of hind leg (LHL), ear length (EL) and height at withers (HTW). Data collected were subjected to Analysis of Variance Procedure of SAS (SAS, version 8.0, 2004) and a fixed effect model was used and genotype x feed regime was determined then the significant means were separated using Duncan Multiple Range Test. The results obtained show significant (p<0.05) differences across the genotypes while body weights and linear body measurements (LBMs) in groups A and B were not far from each other down the group. It can be concluded that rabbits can be restricted for 14 hours per day without much difference in terms of body weight and LBMs.