GENETIC AND NON GENETIC FACTORS AFFECTING THE LITTER TRAITS OF BROILER RABBITS

The data on pre-weaning and post weaning litter weights and litter size at birth and weaning age of 4 weeks of 512 bunnies born in 109 kindlings of New Zealand White (NN), Soviet Chinchilla (SS), Grey Giant (GG) and Flemish Giant (FF) were analyzed. Genetic group had significant effect on litter weights at 1, 2, 3, 8, 10 and 12 weeks of age. Litter size influenced the pre-weaning and post weaning litter weights significantly, while the month of birth affected the litter weights of bunnies from 3 to 12 weeks of age. The effect of sex of bunny was not significant. The milk yield up to 18 days in NN, SS, GG and FF does averaged 1267.34±23.78, 1043.67±23.95, 1534.34±56.34 and 1423.67±118.44 g, respectively. The phenotypic correlations among the pre-weaning and post weaning litter weights were positive and ranged from moderate to high in magnitude. The R 2 - values of the multiple regression equations developed to predict the weaning weight of bunnies based on the litter size at birth, milk yield during first week of lactation and dam weight of kindling ranged from 58 to 72 percent.