Evaluation of New Zealand white and Soviet chinchilla breeds of rabbit in South Garo Hills, Meghalaya, India

Abstract

Krishi Vigyan Kendra, South Garo Hills conducted on farm trials (OFT) at three villages during 2019-20 where New Zealand White (NZW) and Soviet Chinchilla (SC) breeds of broiler rabbit were introduced. Altogether 10 demonstration units were laid out having one male and two females in each unit. The groups were fed with pelleted feed (Crude protein 15%) and greens (ad libitum). The quantity of feed offered and leftover was recorded on daily basis. It was found that the average age at first kidding, number of kidding per doe per year, litter size per kidding per doe and litter size at weaning per kidding per doe for New Zealand White (NZW) rabbit were 211.85±0.45,6.00±0.18, 6.2±0.29 and 4.25±0.29, respectively and the corresponding values for SC breed of rabbit were 212±0.45, 6.10±0.19, 6.1±0.29, 4.5±0.36. The mean body weight of NZW at the age of weaning (4th wk) and at slaughter age (13th wk) were 249.29±1.88g and 1271.50±8.99g respectively and the parallel values for SC were recorded as 251.33±1.77gand 1273.19±2.99g. Similarly, the body weight gain of NZW and SC rabbits at 5th week and 13th wk were 192.38±2.02g, 93.63±6.34g, 205.01±2.43g and 92.88±3.07g. The body weight and body weight gain that has been observed from 4 to 13 wk in both, NZW and SC suggested that there was no significant difference between the breeds. The average quantity of weekly feed consumed per animal from 4thto 13th wk in NZW was 316.57g and figures for SC was found as 300.68g. The amount of weekly feed consumed in both the breeds did not differed significantly. The average weekly feed conversion ratio (FCR) per animal in NZW was 3.49 and for SC was 3.34. The average FCR in both the breeds did not differ significantly. It was observed that both the breeds performed well in South Garo Hills district of Meghalaya with basic management practices.