Evaluation of Productive and Physiological Performance of Baladi Red Compared to New Zealand White Rabbits Under the Same Managerial Conditions

Abstract

This experiment was designed to compare the productive performance, reproductive efficiency, physiological reactions and behavioral traits in males and females of two breeds of rabbits, Baladi Red (BR) and New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit breeds. Fifty two mature males and females rabbits were used in this experiment. Twenty six from each breed were used (6 males and 20 females). At the bigining of the experiment, age of animales averaged 4-5 months and their weight averaged 2.20-2.50 Kg for each breeds. Results of this study indicated that, there were significant differences between both breeds and sexes on most studied traits. Females had (P≤0.05) superior physiological body reactions and lower hematological parameters than those recorded for males, irrespective of breed factor. Howeber, no significant differences were found between breeds on physiological body reactions and hematological parameters, irrespective of sex of breed. Also, the results showed that, NZW rabbit bucks had significantly (P≤0.05) higher libido, whole ejaculate volume, dead spermatozoa, and insignificant higher sperm concentration/ml than those obtained in BR bucks breed. In contrast, BR rabbit bucks had (P≤0.05) higher semen pH, net ejaculate volume and initial motility, and had insignificant higher sperm concentration/ejaculate than those obtained in NZW bucks breed. Also, NZW rabbit does had significantly (P≤0.05) higher receptivity percent, litter size at weaning, milk yield and walking behavior percent, and had insignificant higher vulva color score, number of parities and litter size at birth than those recorded in BR breed. Contrary, BR rabbit does had (P≤0.05) higher, body weight after one year, kindling intervals, average kit weight at weaning, sitting behavior percent, and insignificant higher conception rate than those obtained in NZW rabbit does breed. Moreover, the results showed that, NZW rabbit breed had significantly (P≤0.05) lower mortality rate of the youngs than those recorded in BR breed. In relation to adult animals, BR was lower mortality rate than NZW breed. Moreover, the results showed that there was positive correlation between conception rate and most semen characteristics, In contrast there were negative correlations between mortality rate of the young and both female behavioral activities and milk yield. It is concluded that, libido and semen characteristics in BR bucks seems to be better than those recorded by the WNZ bucks. However, productive and reproductive efficiency in NZW does appears to be higher than those obtained from BR breed, under the same managerial conditions.

Effect of season and housing systems on various physio-behavioral attributes of local breed of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) in Southern Punjab, Pakistan

“…The behavioral activities of each rabbit viz. sitting, standing and walking of Group I and II were recorded visually for 300 seconds (05 minutes) (Khalil et al, 2014). Group I was monitored from 9 -11 am, whereas Group II was monitored throughout an hour.…”

“…The thermo-respiratory traits including RR and RT were calculated in both groups through the conventional method using a stop watch. The RR was calculated in rabbits by counting the chest muscle movements for 60 seconds, whereas RT was taken through a clinical rectal thermometer (Khalil et al, 2014). The TSL for each male rabbit under a cage system was also observed.…”