Economic Study of Litter Size in New Zealand White Rabbits

Abstract

Rabbits are one of best source of meat producing animals because of the short generation interval, high productivity, and rapid growth. The study looked at the effect of litter size on productive traits, carcass characters and economic performance of post weaning rabbits. On the first day after kindling (d 0), the rabbits does were randomly assigned to one of the following three groups according to the litter size (number of kits): G1 (4-5), G2 (6-7), and G3 (8-9) kits in primiparous rabbit does then the growth rate, carcass traits and economic efficiency were determined. The litter size had no significant effect in feed intake (2330.00 ± 68.04, 2401.00 ± 58.42 and 2476.00 ± 66.72), but had significant increase in feed conversion rate (1.68 ± 0.07, 1.88 ± 0.11 and 2.01 ± 0.06), significant decrease in market rabbit weight (2071.50 ± 87.49, 1858.00 ± 58.38 and 1777.50 ± 51.32) for G1, G2 and G3, respectively. Significant increase in hot carcass weight (1468.50 ± 90.36, 1224.00 ± 47.81, 1171.50 ± 50.54) and chilled carcass weight (1468.50 ± 90.36, 1221.50 ± 47.73, 1170.00 ± 50.36) for G1, G2 and G3, respectively was also observed. Litter size had significant decrease in weaning body weight (657.20 ± 79.80, 578.00 ± 61.76, and 541.50 ± 63.01, respectively) among rabbits` groups. Litter size declared significant decrease in market body weight among rabbits groups, also has no significant effect in fixed (5.00 ± 0.00, 5.00 ± 0.00, 5.00 ± 0.00) variable (44.81 ± 0.37, 45.20 ± 0.32, 45.61 ± 0.37) and total costs ( 49.81 ± 0.37 , 50.20 ± 0.32, 50.61 ± 0.37) for G1, G2 and G3, respectively. Litter size showed significance increase in total (84.08 ± 3.35, 75.57 ± 2.27, 72.35 ± 1.99) and net returns ( 34.27 ± 2.98, 25.37 ± 1.95, 21.74 ± 1.63) for G1, G2 and G3, respectively. We can conclude that the does have 4-5 litter size better than those have 6-7 and 8-9 litter size in productive performance, carcass characteristics and economic efficiency of rabbit production with lowering total cost and increase total and net returns in new Zealand white rabbit of current study.