EFFECTS OF GENOTYPE, GESTATION LENGTH AND LITTER SIZE ON THE BIRTH WEIGHT, LITTER WEIGHT, THIRD AND FIFTH WEEK BODY WEIGHT OF CROSSBRED KITS

Abstract

Future performance of rabbit is hinged on many factors of which the birth weight, gestation length, and the litter size are most important. One hundred cross bred kits from five breeds of rabbits (Dutch- belted (DUC), Rex, Californian white (CAL), New Zealand White (NZW) and locally adapted strain (LOC)) were used to confirm this assumption. The study was carried out at the rabbit unit of the Livestock Farm of Teaching and Research Farm at the Federal University of Technology, Akure. The rabbits were fed ad libitum with grower's mash which was wet with water to avoid dustiness; this was supplemented with forages (Tridax procumbens and Talinium triangulae) in the evening. Individual birth weight, litter weight, litter size and weekly body weight were recorded before meal in the morning. Genotype exerted significant influence (P<0.01) on the individual and litter weight at birth as well as on the body weight of the kits at 21^st and 35^th days. The kit kindled from mating CALXDUC breeds had the highest mean body weight from birth (91.909.84g) to 35^th days (368.2517.36g) while the crosses of DUCXCAL recorded the lowest mean body weight from birth (74.251.78g) to 35 days (332.6012.54g). There were also significant differences (P<0.05) for the individual and litter birth weights, body weights at 21^st and 35^th days based on the duration of gestation among the does. Does with short gestation length (29 days) had kits with light body weight compared to those with longer periods of gestation (34 days). More so, kits belonging to a large litter size (7) had the light body at as well as and

Future performance of rabbit is hinged on many factors of which the birth weight, gestation length, and the litter size are most important. One hundred cross bred kits from five breeds of rabbits (Dutch- belted (DUC), Rex, Californian white (CAL), New Zealand White (NZW) and locally adapted strain (LOC)) were used to confirm this assumption. The study was carried out at the rabbit unit of the Livestock Farm of Teaching and Research Farm at the Federal University of Technology, Akure. The rabbits were fed ad libitum with grower's mash which was wet with water to avoid dustiness; this was supplemented with forages (Tridax procumbens and Talinium triangulae) in the evening. Individual birth weight, litter weight, litter size and weekly body weight were recorded before meal in the morning. Genotype exerted significant influence (P<0.01) on the individual and litter weight at birth as well as on the body weight of the kits at 21^st and 35^th days. The kit kindled from mating CALXDUC breeds had the highest mean body weight from birth (91.909.84g) to 35^th days (368.2517.36g) while the crosses of DUCXCAL recorded the lowest mean body weight from birth (74.251.78g) to 35 days (332.6012.54g). There were also significant differences (P<0.05) for the individual and litter birth weights, body weights at 21^st and 35^th days based on the duration of gestation among the does. Does with short gestation length (29 days) had kits with light body weight compared to those with longer periods of gestation (34 days). More so, kits belonging to a large litter size (7) had the light body at as well as and day 209.57-3.70g, 319.1119.22g) revealing significant influence (P<0.05) of litter size on the body weight of kits which was different from kits of lesser litter size. Based on the results of the experiment carried out, a crossbreeding involving breeds of sires and does is recommended to produce offspring with better performances.

209.57-3.70g, 319.1119.22g) revealing significant influence (P<0.05) of litter size on the body weight of kits which was different from kits of lesser litter size. Based on the results of the experiment carried out, a crossbreeding involving breeds of sires and does is recommended to produce offspring with better performances.