Estimation of genetic parameters for mortality of four rabbit breeds and their crosses during the fattening period

The aim of this study was to find out the mortality in several genotypes and to estimate crossbreeding effects for mortality. In this investigation the breeds Flemish Giant as a large breed, Champagne D’Argent and Giant Chinchilla as breeds with middle body weight and Dutch as a small breed were involved. The mortality was recorded during the fattening period from 28th to 84th day of live. Among the pure breeds the lowest rate of mortality could be observed for Dutch with 4.5% and the highest for Flemish Giant with 22.2%. Champagne D’Argent and Giant Chinchilla showed 13.9 and 15.4% mortality. Comparing the several crossing levels, purebred generation, F1 and F2 generation and back crossings the mortality rates were similary. They ranged from 12.1% to 14.2%. Considering the F1-genotypes in this comparison significant differences between the reciprocal crossings were found. The estimation of crossing parameters resulted in significant additive genetic effects, but heterosis couldn’t be observed.

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