Estimation of genetic, phenotypic and environmental parameters of morphometric traits in Sudanese rabbit.

摘要

This experiment aimed at the estimation of the genetic parameters for morphometric traits of the Sudanese Local rabbits. Traits studied were: Body Weight (BWT), Ear Length (EL), Fore Limb (FL), Hind Limb (HL), Body Length (BL), height at wither (HTW), Nose to Shoulder (NS), Thigh Girth (TG), Tail Length (TL), abdominal circumference (ABC) and Heart Girth (HG). Data on 74 full pedigreed rabbits at 3 and 5 month of age were used to estimate the heritabilities, genetic, phenotypic and environmental correlation coefficients for these morphometric traits. Heritabilities and various correlation coefficients at 3 month were inestimable for EL. Heritabilties were estimated from sire component of variances. Heritabilities for other traits at this age were moderate to high (0.211-0.570) except for HG (0.130). The genetic correlations among traits studied were generally positive and high. On the other hand, heritability estimates at 5 month of age for all the traits studied were moderate to high (0.223-0.521). The genetic correlation coefficients at 5 month of age of heart girth with all traits studied except ear length (non estimable) and body length (moderate) were high. Whereas, the estimations of the genetic correlation coefficients for body weight with ear length, height at wither, nose to shoulder and tail length was low and negative. It is concluded that linear trait can be used, as alternative guide for body weight, in selection programs aiming at local rabbit improvement.