Post-weaning body morphology to sexual maturity and carcass characteristics of rabbits in the humid rainforest zone of Nigeria

Abstract

Data on some linear measurements of rabbits at weaning and post weaning ages to sexual maturity were recorded on weekly interval to quantify rabbit conformation and determine their interrelationships and how well they can predict body weight of rabbits. The rabbits were of mixed breeds raised at the University of Benin Farm Project between May and November 2003. Data obtained were on body weight (BWT), shoulder-to-tail-drop (STD), heart girth (HGT), hind limb length (HLL), thigh girth (TGT) and half hind limb length (HHL). Analyses of different carcass cuts (hind limb, fore limb, waist region, back bone area, skin offal and viscera organs) were also done. Body measurements increased in mean value from 396.43g, 23.57cm, 20.93cm, 18.29cm and 10.00cm to 1621.43g, 31.11cm, 27.39cm, 23.67cm, 12.75cm and 13.79cm for BWT, STD, HGT, HLL, TGT and HHL at weaning to 15 weeks post weaning ages respectively. High and positive relationship exited among linear measurements and body weight with values ranging from –0.49 to 0.89. Results of principal component indicated that body size was influenced most by the TGT at Principal component 1 (PC1) but at Principal component 2 (PC2) HLL had the highest weight (eigenvector) thus suggesting that in rabbits hind limb measurement seems to better predict body weight by accounting for more than 98% of the total variation in body weight. Rabbit had a dressing percentage of 50.67 with the hind limbs accounting for over 42% of the carcass weight.

International Journal of Agriculture and Rural Development Vol. 7(2) 2006: 40-47