1Department of Agriculture, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, P.M.B. 1010, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
2Department of Animal Science, Rivers State University of Science and Technology, Nkpolu-Oroworukwo, P.M.B. 5080, Port Harcourt, Rivers State, Nigeria
3Department of Animal Breeding and Genetics, College of Animal Science and Livestock Production, Federal University of Agriculture, P.M.B. 2240, Abeokuta, Ogun State, Nigeria
4Department of Agriculture, (Agricultural Economics/Agribusiness Programme), Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, P.M.B. 1010, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria
5Department of Animal Breeding and Physiology, Michael Okpara University of Agriculture Umudike, P.M.B. 7267, Umuahia, Abia State, Nigeria
*Corresponding Author: A.I. Adeolu, Department of Agriculture, Alex Ekwueme Federal University, Ndufu-Alike, P.M.B. 1010, Abakaliki, Ebonyi State, Nigeria, Email: adeolufunai2012@gmail.com
Online published on 30 October, 2020.
Data from 302 progeny in a heterogeneous population of rabbits were used to estimate the heritability and correlations (phenotypic and genetic) of pre-weaning litter traits (litter size at birth LSB, litter size at weaning LSW, litter weight birth LWB, litter weight at weaning LWW, kit weight birth KWB, and kit weight weaning KWW). Heritability estimates for litter size ranged from 0.16 (LSW) to 0.22 (LSB). LWB and LWW were more highly heritable (0.52 and 0.55 respectively) than KWB and KWW (0.36 and 0.25 respectively). The genetic (rG) and phenotypic (rP) correlations between litter size and litter weight at birth and weaning were 0.69 to 0.88 (rG) and 0.28 to 0.88 (rP). Generally, litter traits gave higher estimates than individual kit traits implying that selection criteria based on litter performance rather than on individual kit performance should be applied in genetic improvement of pre-weaning traits in rabbits raised in derived savanna zone.
Heritability, Litter traits, Phenotypic correlations, Genetic correlations, Rabbits
