Crossbreeding effects of weaning and post-weaning body measurements of Bauscat and Baladi red rabbits
Abstract: Data on 2305 rabbits which consists of 1211 straight-bred and 1094 cross-bred individuals. produced from crossing of an exotic (Bauscat, B) and a native (Baladi Red, BR) rabbit breed. The Experimental work was done at the Rabbit Farm, Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Al-Azhar University, Nasr City Cairo, Egypt, for three consecutive years of production starting from September 1998. In this study direct heterosis as well as maternal and direct additive effects for some body measurements traits (i.e. Body length, BL; Loin length, LL; Chest circumference, CC; Chest width, CW and Loin width, LW) from weaning (4 weeks) up to marketing (14 weeks) were estimated. Effects of mating groups and straight-bred differences on measurements traits (BL, LL, CC, CW and LW) were found to be significant (P< 0.05, P< 0.01 or P< 0.001) at most ages studied. Contrasts between Bauscat and Baladi Red rabbits for body measurements indicated the superiority of Bauscat rabbits over Baladi Red ones in measurements traits at all studied weeks. These differences were mostly significant (P< 0.05, P< 0.0l or P< 0.001) at all weeks studied except at 4 wks for BL, at 8 wks for LL, at 4 and 8 wks for CC and CW at 4 wks for LW during which they lack significance. Estimates of direct heterosis was positive and significant (P< 0.05, P< 0.01 or P< 0.001) for most body measurements at 4, 8, 12, and 14 wks of ages. Crossing between Band BR rabbits was generally in favor of Bauscat sired rabbits for most body measurements traits except for BL at 8, LL at 4, 12 and 14 weeks, CC at 8 and 14 and CW at 4 wks of age all through the superiority were in favor of Baladi Red sired progeny. Contrast of maternal additive effect on body measurements were positive and significant (P< 0.01 or P< 0.001) on most body measurements except at 4 weeks for BL and LL, at 4 and 14 weeks for CC while at 4,8 and 14 weeks for CW whilst the differences were non-significant. Results indicated that B as a dam breed are by some means better than BR for body measurements in simple crossbreeding programs including these two rabbit breeds. However, reciprocal recurrent selection would improve the nicking ability of those breeds to be used as precursors of broiler rabbits.
Keywords: Rabbits crossing, body length, chest circumference, Heterotic effect, maternal additive, direct additive.
Publication year 2007
Pages 1-7
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى - شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى - الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City قناة السويس
serial title Agricultural Research Journal; Suez Canal University
ISSN 1687-1049
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    احمد محمود عبد الغنى جامعة قناة السويس
    جمال الدين يوسف عطاالله جامعة الازهر
    محمود غريب غريب محمد جامعة الازهر
Agris Categories Animal husbandry
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Body measurements. Crossbreeding. Rabbits. Weaning.
Proposed Agrovoc post-weaning;Rabbits crossing;body length;chest circumference;Heterotic effect;maternal additive;direct additive;
Publication Type Journal
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