Effect of post - partum mating time on the reproductive performance of broiler rabbits in eastern Himalayan Region of India

Abstract

An effort was made to study the effect of post-partum mating time on the reproductive performance of broiler rabbits under the sub-temperate agro-climatic condition of Eastern Himalayas, for increasing litter size at birth, crops per doe per year, live born kits per doe per year with the object of getting maximum economic benefit from rabbit husbandry. Fifteen does and three bucks each of New Zealand White, Soviet Chinchilla and Meghalaya Local strain of 7–8 months age were selected randomly from the institute farm. Does of each breed were divided randomly in three groups of 5 each. Does were mated between 15–29 days after kindling (Gr-1), between 30–45 days after kindling (Gr-2) and 46–60 days post-partum (Gr-3) at Rabbit Research Farm, ICAR Research Complex for NEH Region, Barapani, Meghalaya. Analysis of data revealed that mating time had no significant effect on any of the reproductive traits. However, litter size at birth, litter weight at birth, litter size at weaning, litter weight at weaning were highest in Gr3, where 46–60 days post-partum breeding was practiced. It might be concluded that 46–60 days post-partum mating was most suitable for obtaining maximum litter at birth and weaning.