Title: Post weaning growth performance in different breeds of rabbit: Average daily gain
Abstract: The data of five broiler breeds of rabbit viz. Black Brown, Grey Giant, New Zealand White, Soviet Chinchilla and White Giant were analysed to study the effect of various genetic and nongenetic factors on average daily gain (ADG) in body weight. The overall least squares means for ADG were estimated as 18.7±0.32, 19.5±0.52, 21.1±0.28, 11.6±0.20 and 15.0±0.12 g during 4–6, 6–8, 8–12, 12–24 and 4–24 weeks of age, respectively. The effect of year of kindling, parity order and interactions of breed with parity were observed to be highly (P<0.0l) significant during all the growth periods. Breed had highly (P<0.01) significant effect on ADG 4–6, 12–24 and 4–24 weeks of age. The effect of sex was found highly (P<0.01) significant on ADG during 12–24 and 4–24 weeks of age. Interactions of year of kindling with sex had highly significant effect on ADG during 6–8 and 4–24 weeks of age. Dam's weight at mating had highly significant effect on ADG at 6–8, 8–12 and 12–24 weeks of age. Litter size at birth had highly significant effect on ADG at 4–6 and significant effect from 12–24 weeks of age. The estimate of heritability of ADG during all periods were high which is indicative of higher impact of genetic factors on body weights indicating effectiveness of mass selection for improving growth rate in broiler rabbits and more weight at slaughter (12 weeks) could be attained resulting in higher economic gains to the farmers.
Publication Year: 2004
Publication Date: 2004-01-01
Language: en
Type: article
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