Estimation of crossbreeding effects for some litter traits in crossing of New Zealand White with Egyptian Gabali rabbits

Abstract: A crossbreeding experiment was carried out involving New Zealand White (N) and Egyptian Gabali (G) rabbits to produce six genetic groups of NN, GG, 1/2G1/2N, 1/2G, 3/4G1/4N and 3/4N1/4G.
Estimates of direct (GI) and maternal (GM) additive effects, direct (GI) and maternal (GM) additive effects, direct (HI) and maternal (HM) heterosis and direct recombination effects (RI) were genetically evaluated for litter size at birth (LSB) and weaning (LSW) and litter weight at weaning (LWW).
N rabbits had superior performance in litter size and weight compared to G rabbits. Crossbred litters obained from mating N bucks with G does were generally associated with superiority compared to those litters obtained from the reverse mating. In most cases, genetic group of ½ N ½ G gave larger litter size and heavier litter weight compared to the other genetic groups. The estimates of crossbreeding effects for LSB, LSW and LWW were 2.62, 7.52 and 12.37 % for GI, -2.34, 9.56 and-7.50%for GM,9.5, 19.2 and 15.8 % for HI, -4.31, 3.43 and –3.77% for HM, and 45.5, 17.8 and 23.8% for RI, respectively. The estimates of direct additive effects were moderate or high and in favour of N rabbits and consequently N rabbits and consequently N bucks could be used as sires in crossbreeding stratification systems under hot climatic conditions. The estimates of GM for all traits were somewhat low and in favour of G rabbits. Crossbred dams recorded favourable maternal heterotic effects on litter size at weaning and unfavourable maternal heterotic effects on litter size at weaning, i.e. crossbred dams recorded larger litter size at weaning associated with a reduction in litter weight at weaning than their crossbred daughters. Estimates of direct recombination effects for litter size and weights at weaning were insignificant and indicate that epistatic recombination effects for crossbred litters during the suckling period were ngligible.
Key words: Egyptian Gabali rabbits, crossbreeding, litter size and weight, direct and maternal additive, heterosis, recombination effects.
Publication year 2002
Pages 143-153
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
serial title Egyptian Journal of Rabbit Science
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    ماهر حسب النبى خليل جامعة بنها
    عزت عطا عفيفى جامعة بنها
Agris Categories Animal husbandry
AGROVOC
TERMS
Crossbreeding. Heterosis. Litter size. Recombination. Weight.
Publication Type Journal