GENETIC PARAMETERS ON PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE TRAITS IN PRE-WEANING RABBITS

Abstract

This study was conducted at the Rabbitry Unit of the Teaching and Research Farm, Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture, Bayero University Kano to evaluate genetic parameters on productive and reproductive traits in pre-weaning rabbits. To achieve the set objectives, data were collected from 208 litters generated from 4 sires and 12 dams in 3 parities. New Zealand and Grey parent stock of rabbits were sourced from National Animal Production Research Institute (NAPRI). A nested design procedure was used in a randomized complete block design (RCBD). Parameters measured include phenotypic variance, additive genetic variance, heritability, repeatability on some reproductive and productive traits of the kits. Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) at probability of 5% level of significance using general linear model procedure of SAS (2001). The result obtained revealed that phenotypic variance (0.02-11.35), additive variance (0.284-8.204), heritability (0.02±0.01-0.49±0.18) and repeatability (0.03±0.01- 0.74±0.15) ranged from low to relatively high for all the traits. Additive variance and phenotypic variance are computed for heritability estimate. The higher the additive variance, the higher the possibility of transmitting the genes to the offspring, the lower values indicated low transmission of genes to the offspring. It was concluded that Grey rabbits could be chosen for rabbit production because of its genotypic productive potential.