ABSTRACT
An Experiment was conducted at the Teaching and
research farm of the Department of Animal Science, Faculty of Agriculture Ebonyi
State University Abakaliki, on Effect of Breed on Litter Traits and Pre-Weaning
Body Weight of Rabbits. Three different breeds (Newzealand, Chinchilla and
Dutch) were used and randomly allocated into individual breeding cages. The 3
in-does were monitored from conception till kindling. They were fed ad-libitum with commercial feed (Vital
feed) supplemented with Tridax (Tridax procumbence) and centrosema (Centrosema pubescence). The experiment
lasted for 8 weeks.
Data were collected on the Birth weight, litter size at birth and litter size at weaning at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th weeks. All the data collected were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result showed a significant ((P<0.05) difference at the 8th weeks (weaning) with the highest value recorded for chinchilla (530.64g) followed by Newzealand (443.95g). There were no significant (P<0.05) differences in the birth weight, litter size at birth and litter size at weaning. The Pearson correlation coefficient of Body weight at 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week showed very high positive significant (P<0.01). A high positive (P<0.01) correlation co-efficient were also record for litter size at birth and litter size at weaning. The regression analysis were not significant (P>0.05) for Newzealand and Dutch but were significant (P<0.05) for chinchilla. Hence it was possible to predict Birth weight, litter size at birth and litter size at weaning using breed type for rabbits.
Data were collected on the Birth weight, litter size at birth and litter size at weaning at the 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th weeks. All the data collected were subjected to one way analysis of variance (ANOVA). The result showed a significant ((P<0.05) difference at the 8th weeks (weaning) with the highest value recorded for chinchilla (530.64g) followed by Newzealand (443.95g). There were no significant (P<0.05) differences in the birth weight, litter size at birth and litter size at weaning. The Pearson correlation coefficient of Body weight at 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th week showed very high positive significant (P<0.01). A high positive (P<0.01) correlation co-efficient were also record for litter size at birth and litter size at weaning. The regression analysis were not significant (P>0.05) for Newzealand and Dutch but were significant (P<0.05) for chinchilla. Hence it was possible to predict Birth weight, litter size at birth and litter size at weaning using breed type for rabbits.
A
PROJECT SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE, FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE
AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
IN
PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE AWARD OF BACHELOR’S DEGREE IN
AGRICULTURE
(B.
AGRIC)
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Title page………………………………………………………. i
Certification……………………………………………………. ii
Dedication……………………………………………………… iii
Acknowledgement…………………………………………….. iv
Abstract…………………………………………………………. v
Table of Contents……………………………………………… vi
List of Tables…………………………………………………… viii
CHAPTER ONE
1.1 INTRODUCTION…………………………………………………. 1
1.2 Objectives…………………………………………………………. 2
1.3 Justification
of the study…………………………………………. 3
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE
REVIEW………………………………………… 5
2.1 Origin and Domestication of Rabbit…………………………… 5
2.2 Breeds of Rabbits……………………………………………….. 6
2.3 Rabbit Production……………………………………………….. 7
2.4 Nutrition Requirement of Rabbits……………………………… 10
2.5.1 Crude Protein……………………………………………………. 10
2.5.2 Energy……………………………………………………………. 12
2.5.3 Crude Fibre………………………………………………………. 15
2.5.4 Mineral and Vitamins……………………………………………. 18
2.5.5 Water as Nutrient for Rabbits…………………………………. 20
2.5.6 Pre-weaning Performance of Rabbits………………………… 21
2.5.7 Litter Size and Body Weight of Rabbit……………………….. 25
CHAPTER THREE
3.0
MATERIALS
AND METHOD………………………………… 28
3.1 Experimental Site/Duration…………………………………… 28
3.2 Experimental Animals and Procedure……………………….. 29
3.3 Data Collection…………………………………………………. 29
3.4 Data Analysis
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0
RESULT
AND DISCUSSION…………………………………. 30
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0
CONCLUSION
AND RECOMMENDATION…………………. 34
Reference………………………………………………………… 36
Appendix
I
Appendix
II
Appendix
III
Appendix
IV
LIST OF
TABLES
Table
4.1: Pre-weaning Litter Trait and Body
Weight
Performance of
Rabbits…………………………. 30
Table
4.2: Pearson correlation co-efficient between the
litter traits and
body weight at different ages….. 32
Table
4.3: Regression Coefficient for Litter Size and
Birth
Weight of
Rabbit…………………………………… 33
EFFECT OF BREED ON LITTER TRAITS AND PRE-WEANING BODY
WEIGHT
OF RABBITS
DEPARTMENT OF ANIMAL SCIENCE
FACULTY OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCES MANAGEMENT
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