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Effect of dam and sire genotypes on productive and carcass traits of rabbits

Z. Szendr^*, Z. Matics^*, Z. Gerencsér^*, I. Nagy^*, M. Lengyel^*, P. Horn^* and A. Dalle Zotte

^* Faculty of Animal Science, Kaposvár University, 7400 Kaposvár, Hungary Department of Animal Science, University of Padova, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy

szendro.zsolt{at}ke.hu

Abstract

The aim of the experiment was to study the effect of dam and sire genotypes on the production and slaughter performance of growing rabbits. The experiment was carried out at the Kaposvár University. Pannon White (P) and Maternal line (M) does were inseminated with the sperm of P, M, Large body line (L), Terminal line of Hycole hybrid (H), or Colored line (C) bucks. The mature body size of the M, P and C genotypes was medium. The mature body size of the L and H genotypes was large. Only P and L rabbits were selected for carcass traits based on Computer tomograph (CT) scanning data. The rabbits (n = 320) were weaned at the age of 5 wk and housed in a closed climate controlled rabbitry in wire cages. Rabbits were fed ad libitum a commercial pellet. Rabbits were slaughtered at 78 d of age. Daily weight gain (5.7%, P < 0.001) and gain-to-feed ratio (G:F) (6.2%, P < 0.001) of the P does’ progeny were better than those of the M does’ progeny. The weight of the chilled carcass and body parts was greater for the progeny of the P does (P<0.001). The ratio of the hind part compared to the reference carcass was higher in the P group (P<0.001); however, the ratio of the fore part was higher in the M group (P<0.05). Examining the effect of sires’ genotype, the body weight and daily weight gain were higher in groups H and L, whereas the progeny of M and C sires were inferior (P<0.05). Body weights at 11 wk of age were: H: 2,918 g, L: 2,793 g, P: 2,678 g, C: 2,636 g, and M: 2,585 g (P < 0.001). Similar differences were found for daily feed intake (P<0.05). G:F differed significantly between groups H and C. The weights of the chilled carcass and of the body parts were the highest for the progeny of the H sires, and the smallest in the M group. The differences between the groups’ dressing out percentages were not significant. The ratio of the fore part was higher in groups L, H, and C, but the ratio of the middle part was not different. The ratio of hind part related to the reference carcass was largest in progeny of P and lowest in L and C groups (P<0.05). It was concluded that the production of growing rabbits was affected by the adult weight of their sires, but the carcass traits were influenced by their own adult weight and by the CT based selection.

Key Words: carcass traits • dam effect • genotypes • productive traits • rabbits • sire effect