THE EFFECT OF CROSSING BOUSCAT WITH GABALI RABBITS ON BODY WEIGHT AND CARCASS TRAITS

Data on rabbits produced from a total number of 518 parities were analyzed to evaluate crossing effects among two breeds of rabbits. The breeds tested were Gabali (GAB) and Bouscat (B). sex effects on post weaning body weight were also studied. A total number of 80 rabbits at marketing age were slaughtered to evaluate effects of mating type and sex on some carcass traits. Mating type affected significantly (P ≤ 0.001) progeny weight from weaning up to marketing age and preslaughter, carcass, slaughter weight, hot carcass weight, fore legs weight and hind legs weight at marketing age. Meanwhile, the effects were not significant on loin weight and dressing percentages . Sex insignificantly affected body weight although body weights of female rabbits were slightly heavier than those of male rabbits. Effects of sex on carcass traits were not significant. Heterosis % and superiority % of body weight estimates were positive for all post weaning weights. Positive heterosis was shown for some carcass traits.