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Abstract : |
This study was conducted to evaluate the Haemoglobin (Hb) types and production parameters of rabbit breeds and crosses randomly selected from rabbit unit of the Teaching and Research farm, Federal University of Technology, Akure. Blood samples from and performance data of 210 rabbits were collected. The rabbits comprised 4 genotypes namely New Zealand white x New Zealand white (NZW x NZW), Chinchilla x Chinchilla (CHA x CHA), New Zealand white Dutch belted x New Zealand white Dutch belted (NZWDBD x NZWDBD) and New Zealand white Croel x New Zealand white Croel (NZWCRL x NZWCRL). The blood samples were screened for Hb types by cellulose acetate electrophoresis. Performance data include Individual Kit weight (Ikt), Average Litter weight (Alt), Litter Weight (Lwt) and Gestation Length (Glt) at birth, weaning age of 35 days and post-weaning age of 56 days. The resultant data were subjected to statistical analysis to determine the effect Hb types on the performance characteristics. The haemoglobin types, AA and AB detected in the rabbit blood did not significantly (p>0.05) affect production traits at various ages. However, Hb AB rabbits performed better than HbAA in Individual Kit weight (Ikt) and Average Litter weight (Alt) at weaning and post-weaning ages of 35 and 56 days., |
