TABLE
OF CONTENTS
Title page i
Certification ii
Dedication iii
Acknowledgement iv
Table of contents v-vii
Lists of tables viii
Abstract ix
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION 1
1.1 Introduction 1
1.2 Objectives of the study 3
1.3 Justification of the study 3
CHAPTER TWO
2.0 LITERATURE REVIEW 4
2.1 Importance of Rabbit Production in National Economy 4
2.2 Advantages of Rabbit over other livestock 4
2.3 Litter Size 5
2.4 Body Weight 5
2.5 Growth and Growth Rate 5
2.6 Source of Feed for Rabbit 6
2.7 Feed and Feeding of Rabbit 6
2.8 Feed Preference and Feeding System of Rabbit 6
2.9 Water Requirement for Rabbit 7
2.10 Cross Breeding and Heterosis 7
2.11 Production and Consumption of Rabbit 7
2.12 Breeds of Rabbit 8
2.12.1 Smallest Rabbit Breeds 8
2.12.2 Medium Rabbit Breeds 9
2.12.3 Large Rabbit Breeds 10
2.12.4 Giant Rabbit Breeds 11
2.13 Coprophagy 12
2.13.1 Coprophagy in Rabbit 12
2.14 How to sex Rabbit 12
2.15 Effect of Heat Stress on the Reproductive Potential of Rabbit 13
2.16 Feed Efficiency of Common Meat Animals 14
2.17 Rabbit Meat Vs the Rest 14
CHAPTER THREE
3.0 MATERIALS AND METHODS 15
3.1 Location of Study 15
3.2 Parent Population 15
3.3 Experimental Animals and Mating 15
3.4 Management of Experimental of Animals 16
3.5 Data Collection 16
3.5.1 Procedures for Collection of Blood Samples 16
3.5.2 Procedures for Staining of Blood Samples 16
3.5.3 Procedures for Examination (x-chromatin isolation) 17
3.6 Experimental Design 17
3.6.1 Statistical Model 17
CHAPTER FOUR
4.0 RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 18
CHAPTER FIVE
5.0 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION 23
5.1 Conclusion 23
5.2 Recommendation 23
References 24
Appendices 28
LIST OF TABLES
Table page
1. Feed Efficiencies of Common Meat Animals 14
2. Rabbit Meat versus the Rest 14
3. Mating Arrangements 15
4. The Summary of X-chromatin
Evaluation across Different Genotypes 18
5. Body Weight Measurements of Different
Breeding Groups of Rabbit 22
6. Body Length Measurements of different
Breeding Groups of Rabbit 22
ABSTRACT
The study was carried out to determine
the x-chromatin status of different breeds of rabbit and their crosses. The
genotypes were Newzealand (NZW) x Newzealand (NZW), Dutch Black (DTB) x Dutch
Black (DTB), (NZW) x DTB, and DTB x NZW. One hundred and sixty-nine offsprings from
the mating were screened. Blood samples were collected with heparin sample
bottles fortified with EDTA anti-coagulant via the ear veins and blood smears
were made on clean glass slides. They were stained with Geimsa, rinsed in
distilled water and air dried. With the aid of microscope, 200
polymorphonuclear neutrophils were examined for the presence of drumstick
appendages. The result revealed that the females had the average x-chromatin
status of 2.09%, 2.00%, 2.28% and 2.07% for NZW x NZW, DTB x DTB, NZW x DTB and
DTB x NZW genotypes respectively while the males had the average x-chromatin
status of 0.00%, 0.05% 0.00% and 0.00% for NZW x NZW, DTB x DTB, NZW x DTB and
DTB x NZW genotypes respectively. These values were within the normal range of
2.00 – 12.00% for females and 0.00% – 2.00% for males. It was concluded that
these animals were free from x-chromatin related physiogenetic problems. The
body weight measurement of the rabbits at 4, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age showed
significant differences at (p<0.05) across the genotypes. The linear body
measurements of males and female rabbits at 4, 8, 12, and 16 weeks of age
showed significant differences at (p<0.05) across the genotypes. From this
experiment it could be concluded that the Main crosses ((NZW) x DTB) and the Reciprocal
crosses (DTB x NZW) came out better since they explored the advantages of cross
breeding and it is advised that farmers should practice cross breeding of
rabbits rather than breeding pure lines.
CHAPTER ONE
1.0 GENERAL INTRODUCTION
1.1 INTRODUCTION
The total world production of rabbit
was estimated to range from 1,311,000 to 1,516,000 tonnes for the top 22
producer countries. From this figure, Italy had 300,000 tonnes, Russia 250,000
tonnes, France 150,000 tonnes, China 120,000 tonnes, Spain 100,000 tonnes,
Indonesia 50,000 tonnes, Nigeria 50,000, tonnes, United States 35,000 tonnes
and Germany 30,000 tonnes (WRP, 1990).
Rabbits are basically reared for
meat, fur and cool production (TNAU, 2008). Rabbit production is very essential
in improving animal protein intake in developing countries. This is because
rabbit is very prolific as determined by the number of kits born alive at
kindling and birth to weaning viability (Orunmuyi et al., 2006).
Alleviation of poverty, attainment
of food security and provision of adequate nutrition are some of the millennium
development goals that Nigeria has to meet. Rabbit farming can be one effective
objective that can be used not only in Nigeria but also in other Africa
countries (Cliford, 2009).
Advantages of rabbit farming are
enormous considering the fact that they can be fed with high forage, low grain
diet that is largely non-competitive with human food and they have high feed
conversion efficiency. Rabbits have the potential to being in constant state of
reproduction and can be mated within 24 hours of kindling. They have high
growth rate attaining market weight of about 2kg at 12 weeks of age. Rabbit
meat is a highly nutritious, tasty and excellent in quality. It is rich is
protein, low in fat, cholesterol and sodium and thus can be recommended for
cardiac patients (TNAU, 2008).
Cliford (2009) also summarized in
Africa Rural Connect that Rabbits are prolific in reproduction, have high
growth rate and therefore high turnover, required minimal space to keep and
meager resources to maintain since they can flourish on forages that are
disdained by humans.
The feeding habit of rabbit offers
no appreciable competition with man. This is because it can subsist on green as
basal diets. The combination of these characteristics is unique. In addition to
these, rabbits have a number of other characteristics that might be advantages
on subsistence farming system such as their small body size, short generation
interval with relatively short gestation period average of 30-31 days. The
daily weight gain is high in proportion to the body weight which gives them a
rapid growth rate and sexual maturity is early. These factors result in rabbit
reaching the weight of a sexually mature animal 30% faster than other animals
(Ajayi et al., 2005) and also make
rabbits suitable as meat producing small livestock in developing countries
(Arijeniwa et al., 2000).
Ensminger (1991) identified problems
facing reproduction of some farm animals to include repeat breeding, still
birth, abortion, poor libido and poor semen quality. It had been documented
that in the study of ruminant and human infertility that chromosomal
abnormalities were the major causes of infertility and pre-natal losses of
foetus. As observed by Berepubo et al. (1993); Omeje et al. (1994); and Wekhe (1998),
chromosomal abnormalities lead to sub-fertility or total infertility, neo-natal
deaths, repeat breeding, anoestrus, congenital defects, poor libido, poor semen
quality as well as stunted growth and general poor performance in young
animals.
Chromosomal abnormalities have been
implicated for all these reproductive problems as observed by direct
karyotyping of embryos from infertile or sub-fertile dams or sire (Long and
Williams, 1980; Hares et al., 1980;
Berepubo and Long, 1983; King and Linares, 1983; Berepubo, 1985; Murray et al., 1985). X-chromatin screening for
the presence of drumstick appendages has proved to be one of the very many
techniques for diagnosing chromosomal defects. Similar studies have revealed
the presence of chromosomal abnormalities in affected farm animals (Otuma et al., 2005; Parkaryi et al., 2008; Nyeche et al., 2010).
In modern genetic term, X-chromatin
evaluation refers to the analysis of X-chromosome only without reference to the
Y-chromosome. The X-chromosome has been successfully used in domestic animals
to predict the cytogenetic or genetic merit of various economically important
species. These include early detection of potential sex chromosomal and
developmental anomalies which considerably impair fertility and also the
prediction of the growth potential of neonates (Wekhe, 1998).The investigation
of the sex chromatin in animals is based on the fact that it represents the
sexual status (XX and XY) chromosomes of a particular animal.
As suggested by Bhatia and Shanker
(1984), much would be saved by farmers if animals with abnormal reproductive traits
were identified and culled early. Hence, the relevance of this work.
1.2 Objective
of the Study
The objectives of the study are:
CYTOGENETIC SCREENING OF DIFFERENT BREEDS OF RABBIT FOR GROWTH POTENTIALS IN A WARM HUMID TROPICAL ENVIRONMENT
