Reproductive performance of Soviet chinchilla and grey giant rabbits reared under hot humid conditions of West Bengal

Reproductive performance of Soviet Chinchilla and Grey Giant rabbits was studied under hot humid conditions of West Bengal. Puberty and age at 1^st mating were apparently earlier in Soviet Chinchilla (169.39 and 215.30 days, respectively) as compared to Grey Giant (185.60 and 228.94 days, respectively) but the differences were statistically non-significant. The female rabbits of both the breeds were significantly (P<0.05) heavier at puberty and 1^st mating than their male counterparts because the males attained these stages earlier than females of both the breeds. The average values of some reproductive traits such as gestation period (days), litter size at birth (no.), litter weight at birth (g), litter size at weaning (no.), litter weight at weaning (g), individual weight (g) at birth and weaning were 31.58, 5.89, 336.69, 4.26, 2788.61, 58.85 and 654.00 in Soviet Chinchilla, and 30.73, 6.71, 362.63, 5.36, 3241.02, 54.77 and 621.96 in Grey Giant, respectively. Breed had a significant effect (P<0.05) on all these traits except individual weight at birth and weaning.