Performance evaluation of Soviet Chinchilla and Californian White rabbit breeds in tropical climatic conditions of India

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1 Indian J. Anim. Res., 52 (3) 2018 : Print ISSN: / Online ISSN: AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH COMMUNICATION CENTRE Performance evaluation of Soviet Chinchilla and Californian White rabbit breeds in tropical climatic conditions of India Uday Kannegundla* 1, S. Sai Reddy 2, M. Gnana Prakash 3, M. Mahender 4 and P. Amareswari 5 Rabbit Research Station, Department of Animal Genetics and Breeding, SPVNR Telangana State University for Veterinary Animal and Fishery Sciences, Hyderabad , Telangana, India. Received: Accepted: DOI: /ijar.v0iOF.7605 ABSTRACT Study was conducted to evaluate the performance of Soviet Chinchilla and Californian White rabbit breeds maintained in tropical environment at rabbit research station, Hyderabad, Telangana. Data generated on total of 1364 bunnies, 701 belongings to the Soviet Chinchilla born in 122 litters and 663 bunnies of Californian White born in 124 litters during the period from 2012 to 2015 were utilized to examine the various productive performance traits. The overall least-squares mean litter size and litter weight was 5.52 ± 0.16 and ± 7.86 at birth and 3.56 ± 0.17 and ± g at weaning, respectively. The overall least-squares mean pre weaning body weights were ± 0.48, ± 1.38, ± 2.03, ± 3.47, ± 7.53g at birth, 1, 2, 3 and 4 weeks of age and the post weaning weights at 6, 8, 10, 12, 14 and 16 weeks of age were ± 13.02, ± 14.81, ± 16.42, ± 17.81, ± and ± g, respectively. Season of birth and litter size at birth showed significant ( 0.01) effect on body weights while genetic group, parity of the doe and sex of the bunny had slight effects only. The low to high heritability estimates, genetic and phenotypic correlations of body weights are the indication for improvement of body weights by appropriate breeding plans. Key words: Californian Genetic, Heritability, Phenotypic Correlations, Soviet Chinchilla, White. INTRODUCTION The commercial meat producing rabbits maintained in India were imported a few decades back from their native tract and utilized for meat, pelt and wool production. Unlike temperate countries India s tropical environment and management play a vital role on production performance, so there is a need to study and understand the exotic animal performance under changed climatic conditions. Rabbit as a micro-livestock augment the animal protein supplies in the developing countries and generates income particularly in the subsistence type farming (Sivakumar et al., 2013). Though it has not made an impact in the meat industry in India, there is tremendous scope for popularizing the rabbit meat. Rabbit as a litter bearing animal, litter size, litter weight, individual body weights and growth rates from birth to slaughter were concern traits for getting of high slaughter weights for improving meat production. The study was conducted to understand various genetic and non-genetic factors influences on body weights and evaluation of the herd in order to choose the future criteria of selection. MATERIALS AND METHODS The animals of two breeds were reared under standard cage system with proper ventilation in asbestos *Corresponding author s ukannegundla@gmail.com 1 DCB Division, ICAR- NDRI, Karnal , India. 2 Dept. of AGB, SPVNRTSUVAFS, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. 3 Poultry Research Station, SPVNRTSUVAFS, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. 4 Dept. of LPM, SPVNRTSUVAFS, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. 5 Dept. of AGB, SPVNRTSUVAFS, Rajendranagar, Hyderabad. roofed sheds. According to their age and sex animals were placed in different galvanized iron mesh cages. Does with dimensions of 3 X 2 X 1.25 feet (floor area of 6 square feet), bucks with dimensions of 1.5 X 2 X 1.25 feet (floor area of 3 square feet), each weaned bunny was provided with 1 square feet area. Fresh drinking water with nipple system and concentrate feed mash were made available ad-libitum quantity to all the animals throughout the day. The concentrate mixture prepared with a composition of 50% maize, 22% ground nut cake, 25% wheat bran and 3% mineral mixture was fed daily and supplemented with lucerne green fodder. In breeding system does were taken to bucks cages and kept with them for about 2 to 3 hours for mating activity and were returned back to their own cages. Does were checked for pregnancy at days after mating. Does found negative for pregnancy were again taken back to males for mating. Nest box with straw strips were placed in cages of pregnant females 2-3 days before expected date of kindling. Bunnies were weaned at 28 days of age, sexed, ear tagged and reared up to four months of age. Animals recording higher body weights in the litter were selected for

2 future breeding programme (within family selection) and the remaining animals were sold to the farmers on the subsidised basis for improving their livelhood. TRAITS MEASURED Litter Traits Litter size at birth and weaning (LSB & LSW): Number of bunnies born alive, counted within 24 hours of birth as Litter Size at Birth (LSB) and Number of bunnies weaned (at the age of 4 weeks) as Litter Size at Weaning (LSW). Litter weight at birth and weaning (LWB & LWW): Total weight of all the bunnies born in a litter within 24 hours of birth calculated as litter weight at birth (LWB) and Total weight of all the bunnies in a litter recorded at weaning calculated as Litter Weight at Weaning (LWW). Body weights (BW): The body weights (grams) were recorded from birth to weaning (up to 4 weeks of age) at weekly intervals and the post weaning body weights from weaning (4 weeks) to 16 weeks of age at fortnightly intervals. Pre weaning cumulative average daily gain (CADG): CADG for pre weaning growth rates were calculated for each individual bunny as: Pre weaning CADG = (Weight of bunny at 4 week - weight of bunny at birth) / 28 days Average daily gain at post weaning ages (ADG): Average daily gain (ADG) is the change in weight over a time. The ADG in g/day was calculated for each individual as: ADG = (w t2 - w t1 ) / (t 2 t 1 ) Where, w t1 and w t2 are body weights at t 1 and t 2 ages in days, respectively. The age intervals studied for the average daily gain were 4 weeks to 16 weeks of age as ADG4-6, ADG6-8 and ADG8-10, ADG10-12, ADG12-14 and ADG14-16, respectively. Table 1: Least-squares means of litter traits. Volume 52 Issue 3 (March 2018) 417 Statistical analysis: The data recorded on the various traits were subjected to least squares analysis using Proc (Procedure) GLM (General Linear Model) of SAS (Statistical Analysis Software) 9.3 and the data were corrected for significant non-genetic effects (Season of birth and litter size at birth). Duncan s Multiple Range Test as modified by Kramer (1957) was used for pair-wise comparison of the least-squares means. The corrected data were utilized for estimation of genetic parameters (Heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations). Heritability estimates for body weights were derived using paternal half-sib method as per Becker (1985). The genetic and phenotypic correlations among body weights were estimated by paternal half-sib correlation method as per the procedure described by Becker (1985). Season of birth was divided as winter (November to February), summer (March to June) and rainy (July to October), litter size at birth was classified into three groups viz, first group including litter size 1-3 bunnies, second group 4-6 bunnies and third group e 7 bunnies. Parity of dam divided into three groups as 1 st and 2 nd parity in first group, 3 rd, 4 th, 5 th parity dams in second group and e 6 th parity dams under third group. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The least squares means of litter traits are presented in Table 1. The least squares means according to the genetic group, season of birth, litter size at birth and parity of the doe of the pre weaning body weights presented in Table 2. The least squares means of post weaning body weights and average daily gains according to the genetic group, season of birth, litter size at birth, parity of the doe and sex of the bunny are presented in Table 3 and 4. The estimates of heritability, genetic and phenotypic correlations according n LSB LWB LSW LWW n Mean ± S.E Mean ± S.E Mean ± S.E Mean ± S.E Overall ± ± ± ± Genetic group Soviet Chinchilla a ± a ± ± ± Californian White b ± b ± ± ± p-value NS NS Season of birth Winter ± ± a ± a ± Summer ± ± b ± b ± Rainy ± ± ab ± b ± p-value NS NS Parity of doe ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± ± p-value NS NS NS NS n - Number of bunnies, NS Non Significant Winter: November to February, Summer: March to June, Rainy: July to October Means followed by similar superscript(s) do not differ significantly

3 418 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH Table 2: Least-squares means of pre-weaning body weights and pre weaning Cumulative Average Daily Gain (g). n - Number of bunnies, NS Non Significant Winter: November to February, Summer: March to June, Rainy: July to October Means followed by similar superscript(s) do not differ significantly

4 n - Number of bunnies, NS Non Significant Winter: November to February, Summer: March to June, Rainy: July to October Means followed by similar superscript(s) do not differ significantly Table 3: Least-squares means of post-weaning body weights (g). Volume 52 Issue 3 (March 2018) 419

5 420 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH Table 4: Least-squares means of post weaning Average Daily Gains (g) n - Number of bunnies, NS Non Significant Winter: November to February, Summer: March to June, Rainy: July to October Means followed by similar superscript(s) do not differ significantly

6 to the breed are described in Table 5 (Soviet Chinchilla) and 6 (Californian White). Litter traits: In the present investigation, the LSB was significantly influenced by the genetic group, whereas the LSW was influenced by season of birth. Parity of the doe was not showing any significant effect on LSB and LSW. Similar effects were reported by Urmila et al. (2005) and Chineke (2006) that the genotype was an important source of variation in case of litter traits at birth whereas, nonsignificant effect of genetic group on litter size at weaning was reported by Kumar et al. (2006) in New Zealand White, White Giant and Soviet Chinchilla rabbits. Season of birth generally influences the litter traits through factors such as ambient temperature; relative humidity and availability of feed and fodder resources. In the present investigation, litters born during winter and rainy seasons recorded a higher litter size at weaning than those born during summer. Similar findings were reported by Chineke (2006), Kumar et al. (2010) and Sivakumar et al. (2013) while, Apori et al. (2014) stated that the litters born in wet seasons were heavier over litters born in dry season. Winter proved to be the favorable season of birth with significantly higher Litter Weight at Weaning in the present investigation, which is an agreement with the findings of Sood et al. (2006) and Lazzaroni et al. (2012). Body weights: Significantly (P 0.05) higher mean birth weight was recorded in Soviet Chinchilla than Californian White breed while, there is no significant difference among the two breeds at remaining ages studied. Bunnies born in summer season were heavier, followed by those born during winter and rainy seasons which did not differ significantly. Significant favorable effect of dry season of birth on the body weights was reported by Gupta et al. (2002), Zucchi and Desalvo (2004), Ghosh et al. (2005), Chineke (2006), Prakash and Gupta (2008), and Sakthivel et al. (2015). It might be due to the summer management practices undertaken at the farm. Litter size at birth significantly influenced the body weights and declined as the litter size at birth increased and a more or less similar trend was also observed for the birth weight. The present findings are similar to the reports of Reddy et al. (2001), Chineke (2006), Devi et al. (2007) and Prakash and Gupta (2008). It s due to the negative correlation between the litter size and the body weights. Parity of the doe significantly influenced the individual body weights at birth, 3 and 4 weeks of age and showing that the weights were in increasing trend as the parity of doe advances the results of the present study are in agreement with the reports of Maertens et al. (2006), Sivakumar et al. (2013) and Apori et al. (2014). It is possibly due to increase in milk production and mothering ability as parity order of the doe advanced. Volume 52 Issue 3 (March 2018) 421 Table 5: Estimates of heritability (on diagonal), genetic (above diagonal) and phenotypic correlations (below diagonal) of the pre weaning and post weaning body weights among the Soviet Chinchilla breed.

7 422 INDIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL RESEARCH Table 6: Estimates of heritability (on diagonal), genetic (above diagonal) and phenotypic correlations (below diagonal) of the pre weaning and post weaning body weights among the Californian White breed. Sex of the bunny did not influence post weaning body weights significantly except at 6 and 8 week age, which was in favour of females. Average daily gains (g): The overall mean of pre weaning Cumulative Average Daily Gain (CADG) was ± 0.32 and which significantly favorable for the bunnies born in the winter and summer seasons, lower litter sizes having 1-3 bunnies and litters from higher parity does. The post weaning ADG s of the two genetic groups significantly varied in 4-6 week of age interval only. Season of birth showed significant effect which is in agreement with the findings of Anitha et al. (2009) and Apori et al. (2014). The ADG of bunnies also significantly influenced by litter size at birth and parity of the doe at most of the ages and non-significant effect of sex was observed at all post weaning periods. Heritability estimates: The heritability estimates of body weights from birth to 16 weeks age varied from 0.21 ± 0.10 to 0.54 ± 0.16 in Soviet Chinchilla, 0.37 ± 0.13 to 0.73 ± 0.19 in Californian White rabbits. All the heritability estimates of body weights in both the breeds were low ( 0.30) to high ( 0.60).The estimates indicate that the production traits are low to highly heritable and offer scope for improvement by selective breeding. These estimates were in concurrence with the reports of Devi et al. (2007), Ibrahim et al. (2007), Anitha et al. (2009), Rojan et al. (2009) and Okoro et al. (2012). The present heritability estimates showed existence of adequate additive genetic variance within the breeds, indicating the possibility of genetic improvement by selective breeding. Genetic and phenotypic correlations: Genetic correlations among the body weights from birth to 16 weeks age varied from ± 0.11 to 0.97 ± 0.01in Soviet Chinchilla and 0.23 ± 0.21 to 0.99 ± 0.01 in Californian White. The phenotypic correlations between all the body weights were positive in both the breeds, revealing the possibility of improving the body weight at later ages by selection of the bunnies based on the early body weights. However, the estimates of some of the correlations were associated with large standard errors which could be due to lower number of progeny per sire. The values obtained in the present study are in agreement with the reports of Devi et al. (2007), Ibrahim et al. (2007), Anitha et al. (2009) and Rojan et al. (2009). CONCLUSION The two breeds of rabbits Soviet Chinchilla and Californian White were showing almost similar performance with high values of genetic parameters was a sign to improve the future performance by better breeding management practices. The non-genetic factors such as, season of birth and litter size at birth were showed significant effects on the production traits so the appropriate managerial conditions in contradiction of the effects will improve the production traits of rabbits in tropical environment.

8 ACKNOWLEDGEMENT Authors thank the higher authorities of SVVU, Tirupati and SPVNRTSUVAFS, Telangana for providing the necessary facilities and financial support throughout the research program. Thanks to In-charge Rabbit Research Volume 52 Issue 3 (March 2018) 423 Station for their help throughout the research work. We wish to acknowledge the hard work and sincerity of the staffs of the rabbit farm. CONFLICT OF INTEREST The authors have no conflict of interest to declare. REFERENCES Apori, S O, Hagan J K and Osei D. (2014). The growth and reproductive performance of different breeds of rabbits kept under warm and humid environments in Ghana. Online Journal of Animal and Feed Research. 4: Anitha K, Gnana Prakash M and Ramesh Gupta B. (2009). Post weaning performance of broiler rabbits. Indian Journal of Animal Research. 43: Beckar W.A. (1985). Manual of Quantitative Genetics. Published by Program in Genetics, Washington State University. Chineke C A. (2006). Evaluation of rabbit breeds and crosses for pre-weaning reproductive performance in humid tropics. Journal of Animal and Veterinary Advances. 5: Devi Sri vidya D, Gupta Ramesh B, RaoNarasimha G and Satyanarayana, A. (2007). Genetic study on pre-weaning body weights of soviet chinchilla rabbits. Indian Journal of Animal Research.41: Ghosh, S K, Das A, Bujarbaruah K M, Das Asit, Dhiman K R and Singh N P. (2005). Studies on the productive and reproductive performances of Soviet Chinchilla and New Zealand White breeds of rabbits in the subtropical conditions of Tripura. Proc. of the 8 th World Rabbit Congress, September 7-10, 2004, Pueblo, Mexico Gupta B R, Rao V P, Eswara Reddy C, Satyanarayana A and Reddy P P. (2002). Effect of genetic and non-genetic factors on post weaning body weights and carcass traits of broiler rabbits. Indian Journal of Animal Science. 72: Ibrahim T, Mbap S T, Russom Z Abdul S D and Ahmed M S. (2007). Genetic analysis of meat production traits of rabbits in Dagwom Farms, Vom, Nigeria. Livestock Research for Rural Development. 19:9. Kramer, C.Y. (1957). Extension of multiple range test to group correlated adjusted means. Biometrics 13:13. Kumar D, Singh U, Bhatt R S and Risam K S. (2010). Reproductive efficiency of female German Angora Rabbits under Indian subtemperate climatic conditions. World Rabbit Science. 13: Kumar R A, Murugan M, Thiruvenkadan A K and Iyue M. (2006). Reproductive and productive traits of broiler rabbits as influenced by breed and season. Indian Veterinary Journal. 83: Lazzaroni C, Biagini D, Redaelli V and Luzi F. (2012). Technical Note: Year, season, and parity effect on weaning performance of the Carmagnola Grey Rabbit breed. World Rabbit Science. 20: Maertens L, Lebas F and SzendrõZs. (2006). Rabbit milk: a review of quantity, quality and non-dietary affecting factors. World Rabbit Science.14: Okoro V M O, Ogundu U E, Okoli I C, Anyanwu G A, Chikaire J, Raji A O and Maduka C G. (2012). Estimation of heritability and repeatability for pre-weaning and post weaning litter weights of unselected domestic rabbits in South eastern Nigeria. International Journal of Agriculture and Forestry. 2: Prakash Gnana M and Gupta Ramesh B. (2008). Pre-weaning performance of broiler rabbits Indian Journal of Animal Research. 42: Reddy S S, Eswara Reddy C, Ramesh Gupta B and Satyanarayana A. (2001). Effects of litter size, genetic group and inbreeding on pre-weaning growth of broiler rabbits. Cheiron. 30: Reddy S S, Eswara Reddy C, Ramesh Gupta B and Satyanarayana A. (2001). Effects of litter size, genetic group and inbreeding on pre-weaning growth of broiler rabbits. Cheiron. 30: Rojan P M, Bindu K A, Raghunandanan K V and Raghavan K C. (2009). Genetic analysis of body weights in rabbits. Journal of Veterinary and Animal Science. 40: Sakthivel, M., D. Balasubramanyam, H. Gopi, P. Kumarasamy, A. Raja, and R. Anilkumar. (2015). Non-genetic influences on growth performance of a population of farm-bred New Zealand White rabbits. IJSETR. 4: Sivakumar K, Thiruvenkadan A K, Kumar V R S, Muralidharan J, Singh D A P, Saravanan R and Jeyakumar M. (2013). Analysis of production and reproduction performances of Soviet Chinchilla and White Giant rabbits in tropical climatic conditions of India. World Rabbit Science. 21: Sood A, Gupta K, Risam K S, Katoch S and Kaila O P. (2006). Non-genetic factors affecting litter traits in Angora rabbits. Indian Journal of Small Ruminants, 12: Urmila Pannu, Beniwal B K, Singh V K and Gahlot R S. (2005). Reproductive performance and economic value of does in different broiler breeders of rabbit under semiarid conditions. Indian Journal of Animal Sciences. 75: Zucchi P and Desalvo F. (2004). An analysis on the effects of month of mating on the performance of rabbits. Rivista di Coniglicoltura. 41: