Combining Ability and Inheritance of Growth Traits in Rabbits

Abstract

New Zealand Red, Californian White and Chinchilla rabbit’s growth performance traits were evaluated using diallel analysis. Data on body linear measurements were analysed by partial diallel analysis. The data were first corrected for significant effect of animals’ sex using least squares constants while effects of months of birth of the kittens and their does’ age were not significant. The results showed that General and Specific Combining Ability (GCA) were significant for all traits measured. Both additive and non-additive effects influenced the performance of the hybrid in all the traits. The non-additive effects played a more important role than additive effects in body weight, height at withers and trotter length and additive effects were more important for ear length, body length, breast girth and tail length. The New Zealand Red and Californian White parents were found as the reliable general combiner. The reciprocal effect was not found to be significant for all traits. Therefore, use of separate male and female breeds of rabbit in any crossbreeding programme may not accumulate additional advantage.

Keywords: General Combining Ability, Heritability, Rabbit, Specific Combining Ability,