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Genetic Variance Component Analysis of Litter Size and Weaning Weight of New Zealand White Rabbits¹

University of California, Davis

Abstract

Conclusions: In a random-bred colony of New Zealand white rabbits, the ratio of dominance variance to additively genetic variance was found to be large for each of the litter traits studied, viz., number born alive, number weaned, and total weaning weight. Interaction between genotype of offspring and maternal effect is postulated as a source of variance, the ignoring of which may bias the estimates of dominance variances upwards. Maternal effects accounted for about 23 to 28% of the variance in each trait.

Both the high ratio of dominance variance to additively genetic variance and the postulated interaction between genotype of offspring and maternal effect suggest that in a rabbit breeding program designed to increase the total weaning weight of litters it would be advisable to test linecrosses within and possibly between breeds.

¹ Acknowledgment is made to Mrs. Lorraine Towle for technical assistance.

² U. S. Department of Agriculture, Fontana, California.