Assessing the Genetic Response of Crossing on Post-Weaning Growth Traits in Rabbits

THIS STUDY conducted a crossbreeding experiment involving Gabali bucks (GB) and New Zealand White (NZW) rabbits to assess the impact of crossbreeding on post-weaning body weights at 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 weeks of age. Additionally, daily gain in weight (DG) was computed at intervals of 4-6, 6-8, 8-10, and 10-12 weeks. The crossbreeding genetic parameters (direct additive, maternal effects, and direct heterotic effect) of different traits were estimated. Significant differences (P <= 0.001) between genetic groups were observed for all BW and DG(4-6). The estimates of direct additive genetic reveal that GB rabbits are significantly superior (p<0.01) to NZW rabbits in postweaning growth body weight (BW6, BW8, BW10) traits at most ages and DG(4-6), with an increase in BW representing a percentage ranging from 8 to 16.8%, and for DG ranging from 3.2 to 28.1%. The estimates of maternal effect (G(M)) reveal that the GB breed had a preference significant G(M) (p<0.01) compared with the NZW breed at BW6(78.62g) and DG(4-6)(4.28 g/d), with an increase represented percentages of 9.9 and 19.54% for BW6 and DG(4-6), respectively. The NZW breed had a preference G(M) (p<0.01) for DG traits in the last three intervals (DG6-8, DG8-10, and DG10-12), with percentages ranging from 8.2 to 17.6%. The analysis revealed positive and significant (P <= 0. 001) effects of direct heterosis, ranging from 13.2 to 28.5% for BW traits and ranging from 6.2 to 27.9% for DG traits. Crossbreeding GB and NZW rabbits can improve post-weaning growth and contribute to creating high-growth lines for smallholder breeders.