Pannon breeding program in rabbit at Kaposvár University

In this study, the rabbit breeding programme conducted at the Kaposvar University is extensively discussed. Population history and recorded traits, creation of the different synthetic lines, evolution of their selection criteria,  stimation of the genetic parameters and genetic trends are the main elements described. The programme (Pannon rabbit breeding programme) is operated with 1 maternal line and 2 paternal lines. At present the maternal line (Pannon Ka) is selected for number of kits born alive, while the 2 paternal lines are pre-selected for litter weight (Pannon White) and average daily gain (Pannon terminal line), respectively, then they are both selected for thigh muscle volume (based on computer tomography (CT) measurements). All these traits are evaluated by BLUP methodology. According to the genetic parameter estimations, the heritability of the reproductive traits (litter size and litter weight) was low (0.05-0.17 and 0.08-0.17). When the litter size component traits were extended with dominance effects, the magnitude of the dominance components varied between 0.05 and 0.08. Average daily gain and thigh muscle volume were moderately heritable (0.21-0.27 and 0.19-0.25), while heritability estimates of the carcass traits (dressing out percentage and hind part ratio) were high (0.47 and 0.59). Computer tomography based traits showed favourable high genetic correlations with the carcass traits (dressing out percentage: 0.45-0.47 and hind part ratio: 0.59). On the contrary, strong negative correlation was estimated between thigh muscle volume and litter weight (–0.37 and –0.70). The selection responses obtained for all analysed traits were within the range published by the relevant literature. The success of the CT-based selection for improving meat production was justified by different methods (crossing experiment, divergent selection, estimated genetic trends). In addition to the slow increase in the inbreeding level of the Pannon White breed, it also proves the effectiveness of the circular mating scheme used in all three rabbit breeds in the programme.

[1]  R. Polastre,et al.  Variance components and response to selection for reproductive, litter and growth traits through a multi-purpose index , 2010 .

[2]  A. Dalle Zotte,et al.  Effect of adult weight and CT-based selection on carcass traits of growing rabbits , 2009 .

[3]  I. Nagy,et al.  Heritability and genetic trends of number of kits born alive in a synthetic maternal rabbit line , 2009 .

[4]  S. Lukefahr,et al.  Mass selection for 70-day body weight in rabbits. , 1996, Journal of animal science.

[5]  M. Piles,et al.  Response to selection for growth rate in rabbits estimated by using a control cryopreserved population , 2010 .

[6]  R. Romvári,et al.  Genetic parameters of growth and in vivo computerized tomography based carcass traits in Pannon White rabbits , 2006 .

[7]  I. Curik,et al.  The contribution of dominance and inbreeding depression in estimating variance components for litter size in Pannon White rabbits. , 2013, Journal of animal breeding and genetics = Zeitschrift fur Tierzuchtung und Zuchtungsbiologie.

[8]  R. Polastre,et al.  DAM AND LITTER INBREEDING AND ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS ON LITTER PERFORMANCE IN BOTUCATU RABBITS , 2010 .

[9]  A. Szabó,et al.  Effect of divergent selection for the computer tomography measured thigh muscle volume on productive and carcass traits of growing rabbits , 2012 .

[10]  A. Dalle Zotte,et al.  Effect of adult weight and CT-based selection on rabbit meat quality , 2009 .

[11]  M. Baselga,et al.  Estimation of correlated response on growth traits to selection in litter size of rabbits using a cryopreserved control population and genetic trends , 2002 .

[12]  A. Trocino,et al.  Genetics of maternal traits in a new synthetic rabbit line under selection. , 2008 .

[13]  S. Lukefahr,et al.  Maternal heritability and repeatability for litter traits in rabbits in a humid tropical environment , 2000 .

[14]  R. Romvári,et al.  A study of the carcass traits of different rabbit genotypes. , 2010 .

[15]  R. Baumung,et al.  Genetic diversity and population structure of the synthetic Pannon White rabbit revealed by pedigree analyses. , 2010, Journal of animal science.

[16]  S. Lukefahr,et al.  HERITABILITY AND REPEATABILITY ESTIMATES OF MATERNAL PERFORMANCE TRAITS IN PUREBRED AND CROSSBRED DOES , 2010 .

[17]  Z. Gerencsér,et al.  Genetic parameters for litter weight, average daily gain and thigh muscle volume measured by in vivo Computer Tomography technique in Pannon White rabbits , 2012 .

[18]  H. Rochambeau,et al.  A genetic description of two selected strains of rabbits , 2002 .

[19]  P. Horn,et al.  ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF RABBIT GENOTYPES DIFFERING IN GROWTH RATE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS , 2012 .

[20]  I. Nagy,et al.  Genetic parameters of production traits in Pannon White rabbit. , 2006 .

[21]  G. Brem,et al.  Inbreeding, microsatellite heterozygosity, and morphological traits in Lipizzan horses. , 2003, The Journal of heredity.

[22]  Z. Gerencsér,et al.  Effect of adult weight and CT-based selection on the performances of growing rabbits , 2009 .

[23]  M. Baselga,et al.  Genetic response to selection for reproductive performance in a maternal line of rabbits , 2010 .

[24]  I. Nagy,et al.  Genetic Parameters and Inbreeding Depression of Litter Weight in Pannon White Rabbits , 2011 .

[25]  R. Romvári,et al.  Effect of divergent selection based on CT measured hind leg muscle volume on productive and carcass traits of rabbits. , 2008 .

[26]  H. Garreau,et al.  Selection of maternal lines: last results and prospects. , 2005 .

[27]  R. Romvári,et al.  Selection of Pannon White rabbits based on computerised tomography. , 2005 .

[28]  O. Rafel,et al.  Genetics of litter size in three maternal lines of rabbits: repeatability versus multiple-trait models. , 2006, Journal of animal science.

[29]  P. Horn,et al.  Effect of dam and sire genotypes on productive and carcass traits of rabbits. , 2010, Journal of animal science.

[30]  J. Estany,et al.  Selection response of growth rate in rabbits for meat production , 1992, Genetics Selection Evolution.

[31]  M. Baselga,et al.  Estimation of genetic response to selection in litter size of rabbits using a cryopreserved control population , 2002 .

[32]  A. Trocino,et al.  Methods, criteria, techniques and genetic responses for rabbit selection: a review. , 2008 .

[33]  I. Nagy,et al.  Genetic parameters, genetic trends and inbreeding depression of growth and carcass traits in Pannon terminal line rabbits , 2013 .

[34]  M. Kaps,et al.  Two-way selection for daily gain and feed conversion in a composite rabbit population. , 1997, Journal of animal science.

[35]  R. B. Harrington,et al.  Estimates of Components of (Co)Variance by Restricted Maximum Likelihood for Carcass Traits in Rabbits Using an Animal Models1,2 , 1993 .

[36]  Z. Gerencsér,et al.  Genetic parameters and trends of the thigh muscle volume in Pannon White rabbits. , 2008 .

[37]  L. Fortun-Lamothe.  Energy balance and reproductive performance in rabbit does. , 2006, Animal reproduction science.

[38]  R. Rouvier,et al.  Sélection sur la vitesse de croissance post-sevrage chez le lapin , 1989, Genetics Selection Evolution.

[39]  M. Baselga.  Genetic improvement of meat rabbits. Programmes and diffusion. , 2005 .

[40]  L. D. Vleck,et al.  Estimates of components of variance and covariance for carcass traits in rabbits using an animal model , 1992 .

[41]  Genetic parameters and genetic trends of growth and litter size traits in the White Pannon breed , 2013 .

[42]  A. Blasco,et al.  Divergent selection for uterine capacity in rabbits. II. Correlated response in litter size and its components estimated with a cryopreserved control population. , 2005, Journal of animal science.

[43]  A. Blasco,et al.  Divergent selection for uterine capacity in rabbits. , 1997, Journal of animal science.

[44]  I. Marai,et al.  GENETIC AND NON-GENETIC FACTORS AFFECTING MILK PRODUCTION AND PREWEANING LITTER TRAITS OF NEW ZEALAND WHITE DOES UNDER EGYPTIAN CONDITIONS , 2010 .

[45]  A. Trocino,et al.  Stability of estimated breeding values for average daily gain in Pannon white rabbits. , 2018 .

[46]  R. Romvári,et al.  Comparison of carcass traits and meat quality of Hyplus hybrid, purebred Pannon White rabbits and their crossbreds , 2006 .

[47]  I. Nagy,et al.  Genetic parameters and genetic trends of reproduction traits in synthetic Pannon rabbits using repeatability and multi-trait animal models , 2011 .