Genetic evaluation for some post weaning growth traits in new Zealand white and californian rabbits raised under Egyptian conditions
Abstract: A total of 4439 weaned rabbits of New Zealand White (NZW) and 2060 of Californian (CAL) were used to evaluate genetically post-weaning body weight at 5, 6, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age and daily gain at the intervals of 5-6, 6-8, 8-10, 10-12 and 5-12 weeks of age. Data were analyzed for each breed separately using single trait animal model to estimate direct additive effects (i.e. Heritability) and common litter effect for studied traits. Results showed that heritability estimates for post-weaning body weight traits in CAL recorded slightly higher estimates (0.06 to 0.13) than NZW (0.03 to 0.09). These estimates were low in both breeds, while the values of heritabilities were ranged from 0.08 to 0.13 and from 0.04 to 0.09 for daily gain in NZW and CAL rabbits, respectively. Common litter effect (GZ d for body weight traits in NZW (0.13 to 0.29) were higher than those obtained in CAL (0.12 to 0.19) rabbits, and ranged from 0.13 to 0.25 and from 0.07 to 0.13 for daily gain traits in NZW and CAL rabbits, respectively. Moreover the proportions of common litter effects were higher than those of additive genetic effects at earlier ages reflecting that post-weaning body weights could be affected by common maternal environment. Conclusively, these results revealed that selection of individual body weight at 5 weeks of age could be more efficient to improve growth performance, particularly in CAL breed due to the high estimate of heritability at such age.
Keywords: Genetic evaluation, post-weaning, growth traits, NZW, CAL, rabbits.
Publication year 2011
Pages 1271-1282
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى- الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City الزقازيق
serial title Zagazig Journal Agricultural Research
ISSN 1110-0338
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    علوى على محمد عاشور جامعة الزقازيق
    احمد مجدى مغاورى جامعة الزقازيق
    غريب احمد الصياد جامعة الزقازيق
Agris Categories Animal husbandry
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Body weight. California. Rabbits. Weight gain.
Proposed Agrovoc NZW;growth traits;post-weaning;Genetic evaluation;litter traits;
Publication Type Journal
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