Abstract
ABSTRACT: A total of 250 progeny of 17 sires and 58 dams from Baladi Black breed population were used to estimate variance components and heritability of growth traits. Traits studied were individual body weight (BW12), body length (BL12), head length (HL12) and thigh circumference (TC12) all at 12 weeks of age. Single-trait Animal Model (DFREML) was used to estimate genetic variance components, as well as permanent environmental variation. Estimates of variance components were 0.52, 0.96, 0.91 and 0.81 for BW12, BL12, TC12 and HL12, respectively. Heritability estimates were 0.24, 0.36, 0.36 and 0.33 for BW12, BL12, TC12 and HL12 respectively. The proportions of variance due to permanent environmental effect of dams were 0.08, 0.05, 0.10 and 0.12 for BW12, BL12, TC12 and HL12, respectively. Results showed that out of the principal components (PC) calculated, the one represent 68.98 % of the total variance. The PC1 was 68.98 of the generalized variance. Principal component factor scores expound 77 % of the variation in the body weight of rabbits. Conclusively, the use of orthogonal body shape characters (PC1) derived from the principal component factor solution could be more reliable in predicting body weight compared to the use of the original autocorrelated body measurements. This is because multicollinearity of interdependent explanatory variables could lead to false inferences when original body measurements are used as predictors. Key words: Body measurements, multicollinearity, Rabbits, Principal Component Analysis.
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