EFFECTS OF BREED AND PARITY ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF RABBITS  REARED IN SOUTH WESTERN ZONE OF NIGERIA

L. A. Lawal; O. M.  Awolusi; U.  Ihendu; G. A.  Ibhaze; O. A. Adu; C. A.  Chineke

doi:10.51791/njap.vi.4521

Authors

L. A. Lawal Federal University of Technology Akure, P. M. B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
O. M. Awolusi Federal University of Technology Akure, P. M. B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
U. Ihendu Federal University of Technology Akure, P. M. B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
G. A. Ibhaze Federal University of Technology Akure, P. M. B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
O. A. Adu Federal University of Technology Akure, P. M. B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
C. A. Chineke Federal University of Technology Akure, P. M. B. 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.4521

Keywords:

Rabbits, reproductive parameters, breed, parity, south western zone

Abstract

This study determined the effect of breed and parity on the reproductive performance of rabbits. A
total of 60 rabbits (48 does and 12 bucks) of about 16-18weeks of age belonging to three different breeds namely New Zealand White, Hyla and Dutch were used for the study and the parameters considered includes gestation length (GL), litter size at birth (LSB), individual kit weight at birth(IKWB), litter birth weight (LBW), pre-weaning mortality (PWM), litter size at weaning (LSW), individual kit weight at weaning (IKWW) and litter weight at weaning (LWW) and only three parities (first, second and third) were considered. Data generated were analysed using SAS (2008) to evaluate the effect of breed as well as parity on reproductive performance of doe. The analysis of the data showed that Significant (P<0.05) differences existed among individual kit weight at birth, litter birth weight, individual kit weight at weaning and litter weight at weaning. However no significant (p>0.05) differences existed among gestation length, litter size at birth, preweaning mortality, litter size at weaning, and milk production of the does. It is known that, when rabbit does begin their reproductive life, they usually have not achieved their total body development yet and, for this reason, the litter parameters (IKWB and LW) are lower compared to the subsequent parturitions. Breed had no significant effect (p>0.05) on most of reproductive traits measured. The statistical similarity (p>0.05) among the three breeds of rabbits may be attributed to indiscriminate breeding of rabbits and lack of pure breed. However, breed may be considered for individual kit weight at birth. Rabbit farmers in the South Western Zone of Nigeria could take advantage of maturity in the third parity does in terms of improved LBW and IKWB as revealed by the present study except when interest is on IKWW and LWW for which the first parity is recommended.