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Postnatal Growth of New Zealand White Rabbit (Oryctolagus Cuniculus)

1977; Oxford University Press; Volume: 44; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.2527/jas1977.4461021x

1544-7847

D. R. Rao, G. R. Sunki, William M. Johnson, C. P. Chen,

Rabbits: Nutrition, Reproduction, Health

Postnatal growth rate of 270 New Zealand White rabbits was studied. Logarthmic plots revealed that the growth rate in rabbits is a sum of two or more exponential functions and is comparable with the growth rate of broiler chicken. Least squares analysis of growth rate yielded a seventh order equation. The average daily gain up to 8 weeks of age was 28.8 grams. Surface areas increased linearly with age. The rabbit population of 8 weeks of age was normally distributed with a mean of 1,644 g and standard deviation of 359 grams. A litter size of seven occurred more frequently than any other size (P<.01). There was a significant negative correlation (P<.01) between the litter size and weight of the rabbit at 8 weeks of age. There was no significant relationship between litter size and mortality. There was no significant difference in relative weights of the integument at various stages. The relative weights of gastrointestinal tract, heart and lungs, liver and head seemed to decrease slightly with age, whereas the relative weight of kidneys increased. The coefficients of variation were high for various organ weights (range 11% to 40%), and the range for live weight was 18 to 21%.