Genetic analysis of some zootechnical performances in the breed hyplus of the rabbit, Oryctolagus cuniculus, raised in Côte d’Ivoire

By: 1539802100

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1539802100

DOI: 1539802100

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Abstract

This study aimed to assess the potentials of the rabbit breed Hyplus imported from France for the improvement of rabbit production in Côte d’Ivoire. Thirty rabbits with 24 females and 6 males were monitored in a local private farm over one year, following a quantitative genetics design. Reproductive performances and production traits were measured in adult females and in young rabbits, respectively. Regarding reproductive performances, all females were receptive to males. Gestation lasted 30.58 days. Number of litters per female was 4.63. Litter sizes at birth and at weaning were 5.95 and 5.45, respectively. Stillbirth and birth-to-weaning mortality rates were 8.27% and 4.89%, respectively. Concerning production traits, young rabbits’ weight from birth to 90 days varied from 53.98 to 2006.05 g. Average daily gain from birth to 60 days after weaning ranged between 12.42 and 21.15 g/day. Negative phenotypic correlations were observed between gestation duration and litter size at weaning (r = -0.16) and, between reproductive and production performances (-0.23 ≤ r ≤ -0.13). Heritability values for production performances ranged between 0.00 and 0.10. Repeatability values for these traits varied from 0.20 to 0.91. On the whole, most of the measured performances showed lower values compared with those observed in the native region of the Hyplus breed. Heritability values were low, indicating a strong environmental effect in the expression of production performances. However, their repeatability values were significantly high, revealing potentials for the use of these traits of the Hyplus breed to improve rabbit production in Côte d’Ivoire.