Reproductive performance of different breeds of broiler rabbits under sub-temperate climatic conditions

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the effect of breed, season, age and weight of doe at mating on reproductive performance of 4 broiler rabbit breeds, Grey Giant, White Giant, Soviet Chinchilla, and New Zealand White, reared under standard management practices in sub-temperate climatic conditions of India. They were first mated at 6 to 7 mo of age, whereupon an extensive breeding system (re-mating after weaning) was followed. Weaning was done 42 d after kindling. The data from the records on reproduction consisting of 503 matings and 377 kindlings were analysed. The parameters considered were fertility rate, litter size at birth (LSB), litter weight at birth (LWB), litter size at weaning (LSW), litter weight at weaning (LWW), doe weight at mating (DWM), gestation length and sex ratio. Among 4 breeds, the LSB, LWB and LSW were higher in Grey Giant followed by White Giant, Soviet Chinchilla and New Zealand White. The LSB and LSW in Grey Giant breed differed significantly (P<0.05) from Soviet Chinchilla and New Zealand White. Season had significant (P<0.05) effect on LSW with higher values during spring (5.68±0.24), followed by summer (5.29±0.30), winter (5.13±0.25) and autumn (4.17±0.49). The body weight of doe at service significantly influenced fertility. The fertility increased as body weight increased. The age of the doe at mating had a significant effect on LSW, with higher values for does more than 2 yr and less than 1 yr old compared to 1-to 2-yr old does. The parity did not affect any of the parameters studied. It is concluded that the factors studied affect the reproductive performance of rabbit does. Grey Giant breed showed the highest litter size at birth and weaning, and the highest litter size and weight at weaning was in spring.

A new parameter describing fertility in rabbits at the farm level: the kit index

“…High temperature values during the summer are a major factor constraining rabbit production, as heat stress affects production (Fouad, 2005;Yassein et al, 2008). Kumar et al (2013) found that hot summer temperatures had a significant impact on the LS, whereas the hot Algerian summer season did not seem to affect fertility parameters (Zerrouki et al, 2005).…”

“…This means that the fertility of does at the farm level is mainly characterized using the KR and LS parameters of total born or live-born kits. Further pa-rameters describing the reproductive potential at the rabbit herd level are as follows: the number of litters per doe and per year; the average number of kits raised per litter, per doe, and per year; and the average weaning weight (Theau-Clément et al, 2006, 2015Kumar et al, 2013;Coutelet, 2015). Schüddemage (1999), Carluccio et al (2004) and Coutelet (2015) found respective pregnancy rates between 64 % and more than 80 % and an average LS of between 8.1 and 10.7 total kits born in different breeds.…”

Effect of rearing system and season on behaviour, productive performance and carcass quality of rabbit: A review

“…Milk yield of doe was decreased in summer season as a result of feeding reduction due to high temperature. Kumar et al (2013) reported that summer season could be attributed to stress factors affecting feed intake.…”

“…Study of genetic and non-genetic factors affecting productive traits in rabbits is important to be studied. Season as one of non-genetic factors can influence the reproductive and production performance of rabbit (Kumar et al 2013). The maintenance of sexual desire behaviour of rabbit is controlled by a complicated system that includes hormones which affected by season (El-Sabrout 2017).…”

Rabbit production in low-input systems in Africa: situation, knowledge and perspectives – A review

“…Heat stress poses a serious limitation to rabbit production in the tropics (Savietto et al, 2012;Cherfaoui et al, 2013;Kumar et al, 2013;Sivakumar et al, 2013). High ambient temperatures, in fact, can cause infertility in breeding rabbits and 30°C is considered the threshold beyond which infertility may likely result (Lebas et al, 1986;Lukefahr and Cheeke, 1991b).…”