EVALUATING PERFORMANCE OF THREE RABBIT GENOTYPES UNDER EGYPTIAN CONDITIONS

This study was conducted for evaluation of three rabbit genotypesunder Egyptian condition. First, Animal Production Research Institute(APRI), second, New-Zealand White (NZW), and third, Baladi Black (BB).Rabbits in all breeds were kept under similar managerial system andenvironmental conditions. Results showed that total litter size and alive born
were higher (P<0.05) in APRI than in NZW and BB rabbit. Mean weight ofpup at birth in APRI and NZW was higher (P<0.05) than BB rabbits, being51.37 and 51.42 vs. 48.22g, respectively. Weight at weaning of APRI andNZW exceed (P<0.05) than of BB (506.8 and 502.4 vs 447.014g,respectively). The viability rate at birth was lower (P<0.05) in APRI rabbitthan NZW and BB, while at 12 days was lower than in NZW, followed by BBrabbit. At weaning, the viability rate was higher (P<0.05) in APRI and NZWthan in BB (75.43 and 78.38 vs 69.05%, respectively). Litter size at birthwas higher (P <0.05) for does having 10 teats (8.69) than in those with 8and 6 teats (6.61 and 5.25), while does having 8 teats showed higher (P<0.05) either size than these with 6 teats. Kit birth weight was higher (P<0.05) for does having 6 teats (53g) than in those with 8 and 10 teats (50and 47g), respectively. Milk yield from BB rabbits was significantly more(113.8g) than from APRI (98.68g) and NZW (91.15g). Milk yield for doeshaving 10 teats was significantly (106.29g) more than does having 8(98.64g) and 6 teats (95.69g). Percentage, of fat and total solid (TS) in milkwas higher (P<0.05) in APRI (16.85% and 36.89%), NZW (15.96% and36.15%) than in BB (14.17% and 33.32%), respectively. The percentage of
protein was higher (P<0.05) in APRI rabbit (15.88%) than other breedfollowed by NZW (15.28%) and BB (14.14%).
Does rabbit having purple vulva color showed highest (P<0.05)conception rate as compared as other vulva colors. White vulva colorshowed lower (P<0.05) litter size than other vulva color, while no significantdifferences between purple and red (7.75 and 8.01) were observed, but itwas higher (P<0.05) than in does with vulva pink (7.23). Gestation period(day) in BB rabbit was higher (P<0.05) with white vulva color than pink, redand purple (32.61, 31.76, 31.64 and 31.60), respectively.