SIRE’S STRAIN INFLUENCE ON LIVABILITY AND GROWTH TRAITS IN A DIALLEL CROSSED RABBITS

Abstract

The study was conducted to evaluate sire’s strain influence on livability and productivity traits using four rabbit strains; the New Zealand White (NZW), the Chinchilla (CHL), New Zealand Red (NZR) and the FCEABK-α (K-α); a newly developed rabbit strains through di-allele crossbreeding experiment that generated 16 genotypes involving 4 straight bred and 12 crossbreds respectively. The performance of these rabbit strains was monitored to evaluate sire’s strain effect on livability, growth traits and mortality at birth, pre-weaning (21 days), weaning (42 days) and post-weaning age of 84 days respectively. The results indicated that kindling to weaning livability and growth traits varied among the rabbit genetic groups due to differences in their genetic makeup. Chinchilla and K-α improved strain and their crosses performed better relative to other strains studied due to heterotic effect. Recommendations were therefore made that variations that existed in this rabbit population should be thoroughly exploited through crossbreeding and selection programmes. This is desirable in order to take advantage of heterosis in enhancing numerical doe’s reproductive efficiency. The study therefore underscored the importance of sire’s strain influence on livability and growth traits in rabbits, which is a better tool of improving animal agriculture for economic development in Nigeria.