Correlated Response on Growth Traits and Their Variabilities to Selection for Ovulation Rate in Rabbits Using Genetic Trends and a Cryopreserved Control Population.

Rosa Peiró,Agustín Blasco,María Antonia Santacreu,Celia Quirino

doi:10.3390/ani11092591

Rosa Peiró, Agustín Blasco + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.3390/ani11092591

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Abstract

Simple SummaryA successful response was obtained after selection for ovulation rate during 10 generations in rabbits. However, no correlated response in litter size was observed due to an increase in prenatal mortality. This increase could be due to the reduction in fetus weights and/or an increase in variable asynchrony among fetus weights. Therefore, the consequences of the selection procedure on weight at 28 and 63 days old (weaning and commercial time, respectively) and its variability are unknown. Using genetic trends and a cryopreserved control population for estimating correlated responses to selection, no relevant response on weight at 28 and 63 days old was observed. Similar results have been obtained for the variability of growth traits.The aim of this work was to estimate correlated responses in growth traits and their variabilities in an experiment of selection for ovulation rate during 10 generations in rabbits. Individual weight at 28 days old (IW28, kg) and at 63 days old (IW63, kg) was analyzed, as well as individual growth rate (IGR = IW63 − IW28, kg). The variability of each growth trait was calculated as the absolute value of the difference between the individual value and the mean value of their litter. Data were analyzed using Bayesian methodology. The estimated heritabilities of IW28, IW63 and IGR were low, whereas negligible heritabilities were obtained for growth variability traits. The common litter effect was high for all growth traits, around 30% of the phenotypic variance, whereas low maternal effect for all growth traits was obtained. Low genetic correlations between ovulation rate and growth traits were found, and also between ovulation rate and the variability of growth traits. Therefore, genetic trends methods did not show correlated responses in growth traits. A similar result was also obtained using a cryopreserved control population.

Highlights

Intensive rabbit production is produced by a three-way cross in which males, selected for growth traits from paternal lines, are mated with crossbred females from lines selected for reproductive traits [1]
Paternal lines should have an adequate level for reproductive traits to ensure line maintenance and selection through time
Higher competition among fetuses for space, nutrients and blood supply in the uterus reduces birth weight [18]. This has led to the question of whether selection for ovulation rate could reduce weight at birth and subsequently weaning weight (IW28), commercial weight (IW63) and individual growth rate (IGR) [11], as well as modify their variability (DIW28, DIW63 and DIGR, respectively)

Summary

Introduction

Intensive rabbit production is produced by a three-way cross in which males, selected for growth traits from paternal lines, are mated with crossbred females from lines selected for reproductive traits [1]. All these traits have economic importance [2] and it is important to know the genetic relationship between them. Crossbred females provide 50% of genes to terminal rabbits; maternal lines should have an acceptable level for growth traits. Paternal lines should have an adequate level for reproductive traits (including litter size and ovulation rate) to ensure line maintenance and selection through time

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