Comparative Study Of The Reproductive Performance And Growth Rate Of New Zealand White And Dutch Rabbits.

ABSTRACT

A study was conducted to compare New Zealand White and Dutch in terms of Litter sue, number weaned, number kindled alive, litter weight, conception rate, gestation period, mortality, birth weight, growth rate. To produce enough rabbits to meet the protein requirement of man. A total of 12 rabbits 7-8 months of age made of two breeds Dutch and New ZealandWhite consisting of 10 does and 2 bucks with live weight ranging from 1.5 - 2.5kg were randomly assigned 5 doe to 1 buck for each breed, five Dutch and five New Zealand White. The result obtained showed no significant difference in their reproductive performances except for birth weight where there was significant differenàe (P< 0.05) However it was concluded that Dutch was best suited and recommended for the humid tropical environment than New Zealand White.

TABLE OF CONTENT

Title Page

Certification ii

Dedication

Acknowledgement iv-v

Abstract vi

Table of Contents vii-ix

CHAPTER ONE

1.1 Introduction 1-3

1.2 Statement of the Problems 3

1.3 Objective of the study 3-4

1.4 Just(Tication of the study 4

CHAPTER TWO

Literature Review 5

2.1 General Overview of Rabbits 5

2.2 Bre&Is 6-7

2.3 Behaviour 7-8

2.4 Nutrition 9

2.5 Reproduction I 0-11

2.6 Conception Rate 11

2.7 Length of Gestation 12

2.8 Litter Size at Birth and weaning 12-13

2.9 Body Weight 13-14

2.10 Pie-Weaning Mortality 14

2.11 Environmental Effects on Rabbits 15

CHAPTER THREE

3.0 Materials and Methods 16

3.1 Location of the Experiment 16

3.2 The Experimental Rabbits 16

3.3 Housing and management 16-17

3.4 Feeding 17

3.5 Breeding of Does and Litter Assessment 17-18

3.6 Statistical Analysis 18

CHAPTER FOUR

4.1 Results and Discussion 19

4.2 Conception Rate 20

4.3 Gesttion Period 20-21

4 4.4 Litter Size at Birth 21

4.5 Birth Weight 21-22

4.6 Number Weaned 22

4.7 Litter Weight at Weaning 22-23

4.8 Growth Rate 23

4.8 Mortality 24

CHAPTER FIVE

Conclusion and Recommendation 25

REFERENCES