Influence of Genotypes and Litter Size on Body Weight and Linear Body Measurements of Rabbits

The effect of genotype and litter size length on body weight and linear body measurements of rabbits was observed using crosses of Dutch belted (Dutch) (DUT) and New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits. Four different genotypes were generated from the two breeds namely : (DUT X DUT, NZW X NZW, DUT X NZW and NZW X DUT. Ninety nine offspring obtained from these crossbreeding systems were used for the experiment. Genotype was significantly (p <0.05) influenced body weight at 7, 21, 35, 42, 56, 70 and 84 days old. The NZW X DUT crossbred had significantly higher body weight than two pure bred (NZW and DUT) and the DUT X NZW cross. Does with small litter size (4) consistently had (p<0.05) highest body weight across the weeks considered. Litter size (4) had the highest body length (40.55 0.53cm). There was no significant difference (p<0.05) between litter size (5) (37.47 0.64cm), (6) (38.33 0.54cm), 7 (37.95 0.49cm) and 9 (39.10 0.78). Breed significantly (p<0. 05) affected ear length at weeks 56, 70 and 84 days old. Rabbits in small litter size grow faster than those in larger litter size. The study was conducted to determine the influence of genotypes and litter size on body weight as well as linear body measurements of rabbits.