THE INFLUENCE OF THE MOTHER AND FATHER COMPONENT, AND THE SEASON AND YEAR ON THE REPRODUCTION OF FEMALE TERMOND WHITE AND POPIELNO WHITE RABBITS

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of the mother's and father's breed, as well as the season and year of littering, on the size of the litter born and reared as well as the birth weight of rabbits. The obtained litters for analysis came from the crossing of female Popielno White (n = 49) and Termonde White (n = 108) breeds with males of the breeds: Flemish Giant, California, New Zealand White, Popielno White and Termonde White. The females were allowed to mate for the first time at the age of 4.5 months. Four season of litter date were created: spring (MarchMay), summer (JuneAugust), autumn (SeptemberNovember) and winter (DecemberFebruary). The analysis of litters carried out in terms of the influence of the maternal component showed that the Termonde White does are characterized by a significantly larger litter size compared to the Popielno White rabbits. The Termonde White does were also characterised by a significantly larger weaned litter size compared to Popielno White does. Kits born to Termonde White doeses were significantly heavier than young born to Popielno White does. The breed of the sire had no significant influence on the size of the female's litter, the size of the weaned litter as well as the weight of the litter born. The significant difference between birth year were observed in the case of litter size born and weaned and born weight. The litter size born was differ between 2019 and 2020 year. When litter size weaned were analysed, the year 2020 and 2018 or 2019 were also differ significantly. The litters born and weaned in the spring and winter were larger than litters born in the litter size born was differed significantly between summer and spring or winter, summer and autumn.