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EFFECTS OF BREED AND PARITY ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE OF RABBITS REARED IN SOUTHERN SAVANNA ZONE OF NIGERIA
Authored By: Amao S. R.
Article Number: 1602595558
Received Date: September 17th 2020 Published Date: October 13th 2020Copyright © 2020 Author(s) retain the copyright of this article.
This study determined the effect of breed and parity on the reproductive performance of rabbits. A total of 96 adults (24 bucks and 72 does) comprises of three breeds were used namely Chinchilla (CHC), New Zealand White (NZW) and California White (CAW) for the study and the parameters considered includes; litter size at birth (LSB) and weaning (LSW), litter weight at birth (LWB) and weaning (LWW), individual kit weight at birth (IKWB) and weaning (IKWW) and gestation length (GL) and only three parities (first, second and third) were considered. The results obtained indicated that breed significantly (P<0.05) affected all the parameters studied except GL. The CAW breed produced the largest LSB (7.50), LSW (5.90), LWW (1850.77 g) and lowest WM (15.00 %) while CHC breed displayed the highest LWB (169.48 g), IKWB (27.65 g) and IKWW (350.98 g) than in the other two breeds. Parity significantly (P<0.05) affected all the reproductive performance parameters measured except GL. The results revealed higher values in the third parity than in the first and second parities for the variables measured. It was concluded that CHC breed produced kits that were heavier at birth (IKWB) and at weaning (IKWW) while CAW and NZW breeds produced more number of kits per litter (LSB) than the CHC breed and third parity enhanced the reproductive performance traits.
Amao, S. R. (2020). Effects of breed and parity on reproductive performance of rabbits reared in southern savanna zone of Nigeria. Journal of Science, Technology and Education (JSTE); http://nsukjste.com. 4:10;pp 114-123
- Amao S. R.
- Emmanuel Alayande College of Education, P.M.B.1010, Oyo, Oyo State, Nigeria.