EFFECT OF SEASON ON REPRODUCTIVE AND GROWTH PERFORMANCE OF WEANING NON DISCRIPT RABBIT

Abstract

The study was conducted to determine the effects of season on reproductive and growth performance of nondescript rabbits. A total of 24 non descript late grower rabbit comprising a males and 20 females were purchased from Dagwom farm of the National Veterinary Research Institute (NVRI) Jos and used as parent stock. 59 kits (34 in dry season and 25 in raining season) were used for the experiment. The kits were housed according to season. Data on litter size, birth weight, weekly body weight, weekly body weight gain and growth rate were obtained and subjected to one way analysis of variance. The results obtained from this study indicated that season had significant (P≤0.05) effect on birth weight, weekly body weight, weekly body weight gain and growth rate. Rabbits raised in raining season had significantly (P<0.05) higher body weight except at week 7 and 8 which were not significant. Also, season had significant (P<0.05) effects on body linear measurements. Rabbits raised in raining season had significantly (P<0.05) better body length and hind leg length while rabbits raised in dry season had significantly (P<0.05) longer tail length and ear length than those of raining season. From the findings of this research, it was recommended that rabbits should be bred and raised in the raining season than the dry season to maximise better growth performance.