Effect of breed and season on rabbit production under subtropical climate.

Abstract

The productive and reproductive performances of New Zealand White and Soviet Chinchilla breeds of rabbit were studied in the sub-tropical climate of Tripura, India. Data from 317 litters were collected and studied. The only signifi cant differences between the two breeds involved the number of services per conception and the inter-kindling interval which were signifi cantly (P<0.01) higher in the New Zealand White than in the Soviet Chinchilla breed. Neither breed nor gender had any signifi cant effect on individual body weight at weaning (42 d) or at day of slaughter (90 d). The season of kindling exerted a highly signifi cant (P<0.01) effect on the service period, kindling interval, and individual weight at weaning and at slaughtering age. Winter (November ? March) was the most favourable season for kindling, whereas summer (April-June) proved to be the most unfavourable season in terms of both productive and reproductive effi ciency. The season of kindling did not affect age at the fi rst fertile service, age at fi rst kindling, the gestation period or the litter size at birth.