Study on some genetic aspects for post-weaning growth traits in two breeds of rabbits and their crosses
Abstract: A total number of 5307 weaned rabbits {1135 of Californian (CAL), 823 of Baladi Red (BR) and 3349 of their crosses} were used to evaluate genetically post-weaning growth traits [Post-weaning body weight (BW) at 4, 8, 12 and 14 weeks of age and daily weight gains (DG) at the intervals of 4-8, 8-12 and 12-14 weeks]. CAL rabbits showed some extent superiority over BR rabbits for growth traits and were 474, 1016, 1638 and 1903 gm for CAL rabbits and 366, 921, 1469 and 1759 gm for BR rabbits for body weight at 4, 8, 12 and 14 weeks of age, respectively. Daily weight gain during the intervals 4-8, 8-12 and 12-14weeks were 19.4, 22.1 and 22.2 gm for CAL rabbits, and 19.1, 20.3 and 21.7 gm for BR rabbits, respectively. Estimates of CV% for body weight and daily gain in both breeds of rabbits showed a general trend indicating that percentages of variation of a certain breed groups of rabbits decreased with advances of age. Estimates of heritability (h2a) for growth traits ranged between low and moderate and increase as the rabbit advanced in age in the two breeds. In general, h2a in BR rabbits were slightly higher than in CAL rabbits, estimates of heritability (h2a) were ranged from 0.08 to 0.22 and from 0.19 to 0.26 for BW and from 0.16 to 0.23 and from 0.18 to 0.27 for DG in CAL and BR, respectively. Proportion of common litter effect (C2) were moderate or high in both breeds and decreased with advances of age in most traits studied and presence of (C2) leads to reduction in the magnitude of the proportion of variance of error (e2) which were ranged from 0.18 to 0.54% for all traits studied. Direct and maternal heterosis (Hi&Hm) estimates were found to be positive and significantly (P<0.05) affected for all growth traits except Hm for DG4-8 week which were not significant. Direct additive effect (Gi) and maternal additive effects (Gm) were significant for body weight at all ages and on daily gain at 8-12 weeks only. Estimates of Gi and Gm were favored to CAL rabbits. Direct recombination effects (Ri) were positive and significant for all growth traits except for DG4-8 week.
Key words: body weight, daily gain, heritability, common litter effect, heterosis and direct and maternal additive.
Publication year 2009
Pages 15-24
Availability location معهد بحوث الانتاج الحيوانى- شارع نادى الصيد- الدقى -الجيزة
Availability number
Organization Name
City مشتهر
serial title Annals Of Agricultural Science Moshtohor
ISSN 1110-0419
Author(s) from ARC
External authors (outside ARC)
    محمد ابو الحسن احمد جامعة الازهر
    محمد منير شعبان مبروك جامعة الازهر
    جمال الدين يوسف عطالله جامعة الازهر
    محمود غريب غريب محمد جامعة الازهر
Agris Categories Animal husbandry
AGROVOC
TERMS		 Body weight. Genetic parameters. Heritability. Heterosis. Rabbits.
Proposed Agrovoc post-weaning;daily gain;common litter effect;maternal additive;
Publication Type Journal
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