Reproductive, growth and carcass performance of two breeds of rabbit and their reciprocal crosses in the south-south zone of Nigeria

The study was conducted to evaluate reproductive, growth and carcass traits of two breeds of rabbit and their reciprocal crosses. Two purebred Chinchilla (CHA) and New Zealand White (NZW) and their reciprocal crossing; CHA sire x NZW dam (CHA x NZW) and NZW sire x CHA dam (NZW X CHA) were used in the study. Four genotypes “CHA x CHA, NZW x NZW, CHA x NZW and NZW x CHA” were generated to obtain one hundred and twenty-six (126) kittens. The growth traits studied was body weight (BWT) while reproductive traits studied were gestation length (GL), litter size at birth (LSB), litter size at weaning (LSW), average birth weight (ABWT), average weaning weight (AWWT) and percent mortality (% mortality). The carcass traits evaluated were dressed weight, dressing percentage, weights of liver, heart, lungs, kidney, foreleg, thoracic, loin, hind leg and skin. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and significant means were separated using Duncan new multiple range test. The results indicated that genetic group had significant (p<0.05) influenced on growth, reproductive and carcass traits performances evaluated. The NZW x CHA genetic group had significantly (p<0.05) heavier body weight than the other three genetic groups CHA x CHA, NZW x NZW and CHA x NZW in both the pre-weaning and post-weaning phases of growth. Similar trends were observed for reproductive and some carcass (dress weight, fore leg, thoracic, loin, hind leg and skin) trait performances; the NZW x CH genetic group was superior to every other group. However, percentage mortality was highest in NZW x NZW (50.28±5.78) and lowest in NZW x CHA (5.71±8.69). It was concluded that NZW x CHA had the best performance in most of the traits measured (growth, reproductive and carcass traits) in the study area and therefore using NZW males to cross with CHA females is recommended in the study area to produce rabbits with better performances in term of reproduction, growth and carcass.