BREED AND PARITY EFFECTS ON REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCE TRAITS OF RABBITS RAISED IN THE SAVANNA ENVIRONMENT OF SOUTHERN GUINEA, NIGERIA

This study determined the effect of breed and parity on the reproductive performance of rabbits. A total of 96 adults (24 bucks and 72 does) of three breeds, namely Chinchilla (CHC), New Zealand White (NZW), and California White (CAW), were used for the study. The parameters included considered includes; litter size at birth (LSB) and weaning (LSW), litter weight at birth (LWB) and weaning (LWW), individual kit weight at birth (IKWB) and weaning (IKWW), and gestation length (GL). Only three parities (first, second, and third) were considered. The results indicated that breed significantly (P<0.05) affected all the parameters studied, except GL. The CAW breed produced the largest LSB (7.50), LSW (5.90), LWW (1850.77 g), and lowest WM (15.00 %) whereas the CHC breed displayed the highest LWB (169.48 g), IKWB (27.65 g), and IKWW (350.98 g) than the other two breeds. Parity significantly (P<0.05) affected all reproductive performance parameters measured, except GL. The results revealed higher values for the measured variables in the third parity than in the first and second parities. It was concluded that the CHC breed produced kits that were heavier at birth (IKWB) and at weaning (IKWW) whereas the CAW and NZW breeds produced more kits per litter (LSB) than the CHC breed, and third parity enhanced the reproductive performance traits