GENETIC PARAMETERS OF SOME DOE REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS, DOE BODY CONDITION SCORE AND WEIGHT IN RABBITS

Abdel-Kafy, El Sayed; Behiry, Fatma; Shabaan, Hoda; Ghoneim, Shereen

doi:10.21608/ejrs.2023.277964

GENETIC PARAMETERS OF SOME DOE REPRODUCTIVE CHARACTERISTICS, DOE BODY CONDITION SCORE AND WEIGHT IN RABBITS

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Animal and Poultry Production Research Institute, (APRI), Agricultural Research Center, Giza, Egypt

² Breeding Research Department of Rabbits, Turkeys, and Waterfowl, Animal Production Research Institute, Agricultural Research Center, Dokki, Giza, Egypt

10.21608/ejrs.2023.277964

Abstract

A total of 2600 records for 218 doe rabbits were used to estimate genetic parameters for some doe reproductive traits (Fertility, FER; and the total number of services each conception, NSC) and doe body condition traits at mating (body weight, BW; and doe body condition score, BCS). By measuring the genetic correlations between these traits, the influence of doe body condition traits during mating on these reproductive traits was assessed. The distribution and plotting of all traits in the data were performed to describe them at the farm level. The medium doe body condition score showed the highest number of fertile does. Fertility failure is more due to obese body than poor body condition. The medium doe body condition score showed the highest number of does used the lowest NSC (one service). The medium BCS is the ideal one. Heritability of traits under study is low to moderate. Heritability estimates were 0.03, 0.02, 0.21, and 0.20 for FER, NSC, BCS, and BW respectively. The performance of female rabbits can be improved by including the doe's body condition score and weight when mating in the breeding program. The direct response to selection will be sensible. Genetic correlations among the doe body condition score (BCS) and traits under study (FER, NSC, and BW) were positive.
The genetic improvement through selection to medium doe body condition score leads to improvement in fertility and the total number of services each conception which emphasizes the importance of interring doe body condition score in breeding programs.

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