J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by McNitt, J. I.
Right arrow Articles by Lukefahr, S. D.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by McNitt, J. I.
Right arrow Articles by Lukefahr, S. D.

Journal of Animal Science, Vol 71, Issue 8 1996-2005, Copyright © 1993 by American Society of Animal Science

JOURNAL ARTICLE

Breed and environmental effects on postweaning growth of rabbits

J. I. McNitt and S. D. Lukefahr
Center for Small Farm Research, Southern University, Baton Rouge, LA.

Growth records of 4,270 weanling rabbits born between March 1985 and December 1989 were studied to evaluate the effects of breed and month of birth on postweaning growth performance of four medium-sized breeds. Californian (CAL), New Zealand White (NZW), Palomino (PAL), and White Satin (WS). Traits examined were 28-d weaning weight (WW), postweaning gain (GAIN), attainment of 1,600-g market weight by 76 d of age (MKT), and approximate age at 1,600 g (AGE). Least squares models included breed, month of birth, sex, and year of birth as fixed effects and litter within breed by month and by year and the residual as random variables. The NZW had significantly higher GAIN and MKT and lower AGE than the other three breeds. White Satin had the highest WW, followed by CAL, NZW, and PAL. White Satin had higher GAIN and lower AGE than PAL or CAL but did not differ for MKT. Poorer performance was seen during the summer, but the NZW tended to be less affected by the environmental extremes than the other breeds. The effects on GAIN of mean monthly temperature and daylength and the interrelationships of these with estimated milk production and litter size at weaning were evaluated by regression methods for the 2,100 NZW fryers. Temperature and daylength had significant effects on GAIN, with lowest GAIN in the summer, but the individual contributions to the variance were small because of some redundancy when month, temperature, and (or) light were included in the same model. Curvilinear trends were observed that favored GAIN as estimated milk production increased but decreased GAIN as litter size at weaning increased. In the hot, humid climate of southern Louisiana important breed differences were noted. There were also indications that daylength may be an important factor in postweaning fryer performance.




HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1993 by the American Society of Animal Science.