Genetic studies on reproductive and productive traits in German Angora rabbits under temperate climatic conditions of Garhwal Himalayas

Abstract

The present study was conducted during 2002-2004 on 350 adult German Angora rabbits (> 6 months of age) produced from 16 sires and 40 dams in 60 litters, maintained at rabbit research unit, GBPUAT, Hill Campus, Ranichauri, Tehri Garhwal. Least squares means, heritability and genetic and phenotypic correlations were computed to evaluate the perronnance of reproductive and productive traits of Gennan Angora rabbits. The average litter size at birth, litter size at weaning, litter weight at birth, litter weight at weaning, pre-weaning mortality, wool yield at first, second, third, fourth, fifth clips and annual wool yield in adults rabbits were found as S.30±O.14 kits, 4.60±O.12 kits, 254.35±5.21 g, 2745.10±24.35 g, 12.90±O.70%, 160.45±7.85 g, 142.25±S.20, 16S.35±5.25 g, 135.85±6.22 g, 142.20±9.35 g and 775.75±20.45 g, respectively. Pooled heritability estimates of the corresponding traits based on sire component of variance were O.439±O.254, 0.491±O.071, O.401±O.101, O.S92±O.155, O.066±O.072, O.442±O.151, O.399±O.198, O.484±O.112, O.208±O.24, O.255±O.125 and O.515±O.100, respectively. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of litter size at birth with litter size at weaning, litter weight at birth and litter weight at weaning were found positive and significant. The genetic and phenotypic correlations of litter size at weaning with litter weight at weaning were found positive and significant, whereas the genetic and phenotypic correlation between wool yield at first clip with wool yield at second clip were positive, the genetic and phenotypic correlations between wool yield at first clip with annual wool yield were positive and significant.