VARIATION IN LITTER SIZE AND ITS ASSOCIATION WITH PRE-WEANING WEIGHTS OF MONGREL RABBIT KITS REARED IN GUINEA SAVANNAH REGION OF NIGERIA

Abstract

This work was aimed at investigating the effect of litter size on growth performance of mongrel rabbits reared in the Guinea savannah geo-ecological region of Nigeria. Thirteen mongrel rabbits does and four bucks were used as parents to generate the kits. The research was conducted at the Livestock Teaching and Research farm, Joseph Sarwuan Tarka University, Makurdi, Benue State. Data were collected on birth weights and weekly body weights changes of rabbit kits using sensitive weighing balance. Data were subjected to one-way analysis of variance as implemented in SPSS. Significant disparity (P>0.001) was recorded in birth weight of kits with litter size 5 having higher birth weight than litter sizes 6, 7 and 8. Litter size 6, 7 and 8 had comparable birth weight (P<0.05). Rabbit kits in litter size 5 had significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight at week 1 than those in litter sizes 6, 7 and 8. Rabbit kits in litter size 5 also had significantly (P<0.001) the highest body weight at weeks 2, while kits in litter sizes 6, 7 and 8 had comparable body weight at week 2. Body weights at week 3 were comparable among kits in litter sizes 6, 7 and 8, but lower than that of kits in litter size 5.
This trend continued up to week 5 of age. Significantly (P<0.05) positive and moderate correlations were recorded between birth weight and body weights at week 1 to 5. In conclusion, the higher the itter size, the lower the birth weight and pre-weaning weight of mongrel rabbits.