REPEATABILITY AND HERITABILITY ESTIMATES OF FIVE RABBIT GENOTYPES AT VARIOUS AGES

Authors

  • E. O. OLUPITAN Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
  • C. A. CHINEKE Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria
  • B. H. AJAO Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.6832

Keywords:

DAM, SIRE, LITTER, ESTIMATES

Abstract

This breeding experiment was carried out at the Rabbit Unit, Teaching and Research Farm, Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) between 2009 and 2010. Data on litter traits such as individual kit weight (IKW), average litter weight (ALW), litter weight (LTW), litter size (LTZ) of the animals were collected. Data on the litter traits were taken at birth, 21, 35 and 56 days of age from 13 progenies and 5 parental genotypes. Heritability estimates due to dam ranged from very low value of 0.00014 (IKTW) at 21 days to a very high value of 0.774 (LTW) at 35 days. Repeatability followed similar trend but ranged from extremely low value of 0.00004 (IKW) at 21 days to medium value of 0.194 (LTW) at 35 days. The study show that selection could be better made for the traits at 35 days of age as that would bring improvement for the traits in question. The results also indicated the superiority of the dam over the sire in selection for improvement of the traits.

Author Biographies

E. O. OLUPITAN, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Department of Animal Production and Health

C. A. CHINEKE, Federal University of Technology, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria

Department of Animal Production and Health

B. H. AJAO, Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife, Osun State, Nigeria

Department of Animal Science

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Published

2024-07-25

How to Cite

OLUPITAN, E. O., CHINEKE, C. A., & AJAO, B. H. (2024). REPEATABILITY AND HERITABILITY ESTIMATES OF FIVE RABBIT GENOTYPES AT VARIOUS AGES. Nigerian Journal of Animal Production, 60–63. https://doi.org/10.51791/njap.vi.6832

Issue

2015: NSAP 2015 Proceedings

Section

Articles

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