Predication of body weight of the domestic rabbit at different stages of growth using linear body measurements

Abstract

Data on body weight and linear body measurements (LBMs) namely ear length (EL), body width (BW), body length (BL), Head to shoulder (HS), Shoulder to tail (ST) and length of leg (LL) of 363 progeny of locally adapted Dutch , New Zealand White and crossbred rabbits at 3,6,9 and 12 weeks of age were analyzed to obtain phenotypic correlations between the various traits and prediction equations for body weight, using different linear body measurements. There were high and positive correlations between each of the linear body measurements and body weight and between the LBM themselves. The values ranged between 0.57 and 0.85, 0.34 and 0.89, 0.27 and 0.83 and 0.41 and 0.75 in weeks 3, 6, 9 and 12, respectively. Hence, it was possible to predict body weight of live rabbits from their linear body measurements, as an aid to farmers in areas where sensitive scales are not available. Except in purebred New Zealand White NZWxNZW, body: length (BL) was a good predictor of 3- week body weight (IBW) in all breed groups. Body width (BW) and BL only were good predictors of 6-week body weight in all breed groups. For predicting 9- week body weight, shoulder to tail drop (ST) was important in all breed groups in addition to either BW, ear length (EL) or body length (BL). ST and BW were important predictors of 12-week body weight generally in all breed groups.