Genetic studies on growth and production traits in German Angora Rabbits under sub-temperate climatic conditions
![](/public/icon/gor.png)
![](/public/icon/pdf.png)
Keywords:
Correlation, German Angora rabbit, Growth traits, Heritability, Wool quality, Wool yieldAbstract
This study aimed to assess the effect of genetic and non-genetic factors on growth, wool yield and wool characteristics of German Angora rabbit. Data was collected on 607 adult rabbits over a period of four years (2018-2021). The least squares means of body weights (g) at various ages, wool yield (g) at I, II, III and IV clip and wool characteristics assessed by staple length (cm) and fiber diameter (μ) were estimated. Sires of the rabbit progenies demonstrated highly significant effect (P<0.01) on the studied traits except wool characteristics. Sex of the rabbits had significant effect on body weight at 10th, 12th, 14th, 16th, 24th weeks of ages and wool yield at III clip, with greater estimates of females than the males for III clip, staple length, and 24th weeks body weight. Winter and autumn seasons were the most favourable seasons in comparison to summer season for estimated traits. Winter born kits had the highest body weights of 683±20.1, 961±24.3, 1263±27.5, 1484±34.0, 1735±37.1, 1942±40.1, 2136±36.9, 2232±36.7, 2341±37.4 and 2429±37.4 g and the summer born kits had the lowest body weights of 588±22.0, 820±27.2, 1037±31.2, 1307±38.0, 1515.79±41.0, 1696±44.1, 1847±41.4, 1920±41.0, 2034±42.4 and 2139±41.6 g, at biweekly interval from 6th to 24th, respectively. Rabbits with litter size less than six performed better in comparison to other groups for all growth traits and wool yield at I and III clip. The heritability estimates were found positive and high in magnitude for all growth traits, moderate for wool clip at different clips and very low for staple length. Genetic and phenotypic correlations were found to be very high and significant among growth traits and low to moderate among wool traits. The study revealed scope for further improvement in growth and wool yield by adopting selective breeding in the colony.
Downloads
References
Abe O S, Amusan S A and Ozoje M O. 2018. Genetic analysis of growth pattern in New Zealand White rabbit fed commercial grower mash. Nigerian Journal of Animal Science 20(4): 347–54.
Apori S O, Hagan J K and Osei D. 2014. The growth and reproductive performance of different breeds of rabbits kept under warm and humid environments in Ghana. Online Journal of Animal and Feed Research 4(3): 51–59.
Assad N I, Khan N N, Alam S and Chakraborty D. 2017. Performance of wool type angora rabbits under temperate conditions of Kashmir (J&K), India. Journal of Applied and Natural Science 9(2): 1022–25. DOI: https://doi.org/10.31018/jans.v9i2.1315
Ayalew W, Aliy M and Negussie E. 2017. Estimation of genetic parameters of the productive and reproductive traits in Ethiopian Holstein using multi-trait models. Asian- Australasian Journal of Animal Science 30(11): 1550–56. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.17.0198
Belhadi S, Boukir M and Amriou L. 2002. Non-genetic factors effecting rabbit reproduction in Algeria. World Rabbit Science 10: 103–09. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2002.482
Bhatt R S and Sharma S R. 2009. Seasonal production performance of Angora rabbits under sub-temperate Himalayan conditions. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Science 22(3): 416–20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2009.80326
Dige M S, Kumar A, Kumar P, Dubey P P and Bhushan B. 2012. Estimation of variance components and genetic parameters for growth traits in New Zealand White rabbit (Oryctolagus cuniculus). Journal of Applied Animal Research 40(6): 16–172. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/09712119.2011.645037
Falconer D S and Mackay T F C. 1996. Introduction to Quantitative Genetics. Longmans Green, Harlow, Essex, UK. Garcia F X and Magofke J C. 1982. Genetic parameters for the production of fleece and body weight in Angora rabbits. Advanced Production Animal 12: 81–90.
Ghosh S K, Das A, Bujarbaruah K M, Das A, Dhiman, K R and Singh N P. 2008. Effect of breed and season on rabbit production under subtropical climate. World Rabbit Science 16: 29–33. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2008.638
Gupta B R Rao V P Reddy C E, Satyanarayana A and Reddy P P. 2002. Effect of genetic and non-genetic factors on post- weaning body weights and carcass traits of broiler rabbits. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 72(1): 70–74.
Harvey W R 1990. User’s guide for LSMLMW, mixed model least squares and maximum likelihood computer programme. Ohio State University (Mimeograph).
Khan K, Suhail S M, Ahmad I, Ahmad I, Ijaz A, Abdullah A, Hussain S, Khan S and Ahmad N. 2018. Growth traits and genetic potential of local rabbits. International Journal of Biosciences 13(4): 444–49.
Khan N N, Hamadani A, Dar E, Shabir M, Bukhari S, Shah R, Ayaz A and Rather M A. 2020. Breed effect and effect of non- genetic factors on performance traits of wool type Angora rabbits in an organized farm of Kashmir. International Journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 9(6): 676–81. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.906.086
Kumar S, Gulyani R, Kumar V and Singh R N. 2001. Effect of genetic and non-genetic factors on weekly body weight of broiler rabbits in semi arid-region of Rajasthan. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 71(11): 1075–77
Niranjan S K, Sharma S R and Gowane G R. 2010. Estimates of direct and maternal effects on growth traits in Angora rabbits. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences 23(8): 981– 86. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2010.90549
Niranjan S K, Sharma S R and Gowane G R. 2011. Estimation of genetic parameters for wool traits in Angora rabbit. Asian- Australasian Journal of Animal Science 24(10): 1335–40. DOI: https://doi.org/10.5713/ajas.2011.10456
Ossard H, Thebault, Vrillon R G, Allain J L D and De- Rochambeau H. 1995. Economic Overview of the French and World Markets for Angora Rabbit Wool. European fine fiber network, occasional publication No: 5: 35–47.
Pokharna A K, Gupta N P, Patni P C, Arora R K and Shakyawar D B. 2004. Processing of Angora rabbit wool. National seminar on Angora rabbit wool and Cashmere production and utilization. Pp. 166–73. 25–26th September 2004. Manali (HP).
Poornima K, Gupta R B, Rao G N and Satyanarayana A. 2002. Factors affecting genetic study on post-weaning body weights and growth rates of Californian white rabbits. Indian Journal of Animal Research 36(1): 39–42.
Rafat S A, Thebault R G, Bonnet M, Deretz S, Pena-Arnaud B, Rochambeau H-de and Allain D. 2009. A note on divergent selection for total fleece weight in adult Angora rabbits: Direct response to selection on total fleece weight at first and second harvest. World Rabbit Science 17: 39–44. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2009.669
Ramakrishna C, Chaturvedi V B, Kumar A, Bhanuprakash V, Sharma A K and Rasool T J. 2004. Performance of Angora Rabbits in Mukteswar. National Seminar on Angora rabbit wool and Cashmir production and utilization, 25-26th September, Manali, H.P., India, Souvenir of lead papers and abstracts, pp.222 (Abstract 51).
Risam K S, Singh U and Kumar D. 2004. Wool production of improved German Angora rabbit under sub temperate condition in Himachal Pradesh. National Seminar on Angora rabbit wool and Cashmir production and utilization, 25-26th September, Manali, H.P., India, Souvenir of lead papers and abstracts, pp.195.
Rojan P M, Bindu K A and Raja T V. 2017. Effect of genetic and non-genetic factors on post-weaning body weight in rabbits. Global Journal of Animal Breeding and Genetics 1: 16–19.
Sakthivel M, Balasubramanyam D, Kumarasamy P, Gopi H, Raja A, Anilkumar R and Devaki A. 2017. Estimates of (co) variance components and genetic parameters for body weights and growth efficiency traits in the New Zealand white rabbit. World Rabbit Science 25: 329–38. DOI: https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2017.7057
Sarma L, Katoch S, Thakur Y P and Sankhyan V. 2020. Estimation of genetic parameters and influence of non-genetic factors on wool yields in German Angora rabbits. International journal of Current Microbiology and Applied Sciences 9(8): 3799–07. DOI: https://doi.org/10.20546/ijcmas.2020.908.438
Singh C B and Jilani M H. 2006. Genetic studies on the reproductive and productive traits of German Angora rabbits under temperate condition of Garhwal Himalayas. Indian Journal of Small Ruminant 12(1): 26–32.
Singh C B, Singh V and Jilani M H. 2008. Genetics studies on reproductive and productive traits German Angora rabbits under temperate climatic conditions of Garhwal Himalayas. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 78(3): 285–88.
Singh U, Sharma S R, Bhatt R S, Kumar D and Risam K S. 2006. Effect of shearing intervals on the growth and wool parameters of German Angora rabbits. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 76: 88–91.
Singh U, Sharmn S R, Bhati R S, Risam K S, Kumar D. Sawav R K and Swaiw N. 2004. Effect of parity on the production performance of German Angora rabbits Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 74(5): 547–49.
Sivakumar K, Kumar V R S, Thiruvenkadan A K, Saravanan R and Jeyakumar M. 2012. Production and reproduction performances of exotic breeds of rabbit under tropical climatic conditions of Tamil Nadu. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences 82(4): 415–18.
Sood A, Gupta K, Risam K S, Katoch S and Kaila O P. 2007. Non- genetic factors affecting wool yield in angora rabbits. Indian Journal of Animal Research 41(3): 233–34.
Thebault R G Vrillon J L, Allain D, Fahrat E and Rochambeau H-de. 1992. Effect of non-genetic factors on quantitative and qualitative features of Angora wool production at French farms. Journal of Applied Rabbit Research 15: 1568–75.
Downloads
Submitted
Published
Issue
Section
License
The copyright of the articles published in The Indian Journal of Animal Sciences is vested with the Indian Council of Agricultural Research, which reserves the right to enter into any agreement with any organization in India or abroad, for reprography, photocopying, storage and dissemination of information. The Council has no objection to using the material, provided the information is not being utilized for commercial purposes and wherever the information is being used, proper credit is given to ICAR.