ABSTRACT The final crossbreds of the broiler rabbit HYPLUS (product of the company Grimaud Frères) were fattened from 42 to 84 days of age. The following traits were weekly recorded: body weight, average daily weight gain, average daily consumption of feed and feed conversion ratio with regard to the effect of the genotype (♂PS59 × ♀PS19; ♂PS119 × ♀PS19), replication, interaction genotype x replication and weight at 42 days of age (group 1: weight lower then 1300 g and group 2: weight greater then 1300 g). The highest difference in body weight between both genotypes was found at the age of 70 days, when the difference was 5.6%. During the whole fattening period the genotype (59 x 19) showed lower feed conversion ratio (P&lt;0.001) and higher average daily gain (P&lt;0.05). The effect of replication was not-significant in most of the traits. The first replication showed a significantly higher value in the average daily gains than the second replication (P&lt;0.05). The interaction genotype x replication was significant in the body weight at 42, 56, 63 and 70 days of age and in the feed consumption from 49 to 56 days. Rabbits of group 1 weighed 2655 g at the end of fattening period and rabbits of group 2 weighed 2892 g respectively. No growth compensation during the fattening period was observed in group 1. The body weight at 42 days of age had a significant influence on body weight at the end of fattening

Dokoupilová A

Jakubec V

Mach K

Majzlík I

Vostrý L

CiteSeerX

Genetics 
 
255 
THE INFLUENCE OF WEANING WEIGHT ON GROWTH OF THE 
HYPLUS BROILER RABBIT 
 
 
Vostrý L.*, Mach K., Jakubec V., Dokoupilová A., Majzlík I. 
 
Department of Genetics and Breeding, Czech University of Life Science, Prague, Czech Republic 
*Corresponding autor: vostry@af.czu.cz 
 
 
ABSTRACT 
 
The final crossbreds of the broiler rabbit HYPLUS (product of the company Grimaud Frères) were 
fattened from 42 to 84 days of age. The following traits were weekly recorded: body weight, average 
daily weight gain, average daily consumption of feed and feed conversion ratio with regard to the 
effect of the genotype (♂PS59 × ♀PS19; ♂PS119 × ♀PS19), replication, interaction genotype x 
replication and weight at 42 days of age (group 1: weight lower then 1300 g and group 2: weight 
greater then 1300 g). The highest difference in body weight between both genotypes was found at the 
age of 70 days, when the difference was 5.6%. During the whole fattening period the genotype (59 x 
19) showed lower feed conversion ratio (P<0.001) and higher average daily gain (P<0.05). The effect 
of replication was not-significant in most of the trai s. The first replication showed a significantly 
higher value in the average daily gains than the second replication (P<0.05). The interaction genotype 
x replication was significant in the body weight at 42, 56, 63 and 70 days of age and in the feed 
consumption from 49 to 56 days. Rabbits of group 1 weighed 2655 g at the end of fattening period and 
rabbits of group 2 weighed 2892 g respectively. No gr wth compensation during the fattening period 
was observed in group 1. The body weight at 42 days of age had a significant influence on body 
weight at the end of fattening. 
 
Key words: Rabbit, Growth, Feed conversion, Final hybrid. 
 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
Currently, the annual world market production of rabbit meat is estimated about 1 300 000 tons, 60% 
of the whole meat production is realized on specialized farms (Mach et al., 2001). The broiler rabbits 
are mostly two- and four way crossbreds. The knowledge of the growth and development patterns of 
defined genotype is the presumption of a successful profitable production of meat animals. The 
performance of meat type rabbits (purebreds and crossb eds) were analyzed by Krogmeier and Dzapo 
(1991), Mach (1992), Skřivanová et al. (1997), Nofal et al. (1997), Pla et al. (1998) and Dědková et 
al. (2003). The final crossbreds descend from medium-sized parental lines. In the Czech Republic the 
fattening period begins about the age of 30 days and ends generally between 80 to 100 days of age. 
The demanded levels of traits are: final body weight ranging from 2500 to 3000 g, average daily gains 
ranging from 20 to 40 g and total feed consumption during the feeding period ranged from 2500 to 
4500 g. The crossbreds growth curve reaches the infl ction point at the age from 7 to 10 week 
(Dědková et al., 1999). The differences in the fattening traits between the broilers are caused by the 
genotype, environment and management. 
 
The objective of the paper was the analysis of the eff ct of genotype and body weight at 42 days on 
the future growth, feed consumption and conversion of the final crossbreds of broiler rabbits HYPLUS 
(♂PS59 × ♀PS19 and ♂PS119 × ♀PS19). 
9th World Rabbit Congress – June 10-13, 2008 – Verona – It ly 
 
256 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
 
Animals and experimental design 
 
Final crossbreds (66 heads) of the broiler rabbit HYPLUS (product of the company Grimaud Frères) 
were fattened during the interval from 42 to 84 days of age. Rabbits from ten multiple litters of one 
commercial farm were weaned at the age of 34–35 days and fattened in a wire cage (67 cm × 45 cm × 
100 cm) on the experimental and demonstration stable of the Czech University of Life Science. The 
replicate fattening were carried out within the month. The average temperature was approximately 
17°C and the relative humidity about 65%. The rabbits were fed with a granulated fattening mixture. 
The content of the nutrients per 1 kg feeding mixture is shown in Table 1. Food and water were 
supplied ad libitum. The feeding mixture contained anticoccidica only i  the first week of fattening. 
 
Table 1: The composition of the experimental diet 
Composition  g/kg 
Dry matter 
Crude protein 
Fat 
Crude roughage  
Calcium 
Phosphor 
Salt (NaCl) 
Natrium (converted) 
904 
171 
42 
156 
11,5 
7,5 
6 
2.4 
 
Traits analysed 
 
The following traits were weekly recorded from 42 to 84 days: body weight (BW 42 to BW 84), 
average daily gains for each week (ADG 42-49 to ADG 77-84), average daily consumption of feed for 
each week (ADF 42-49 to ADF77-84) and feed conversion ratio for each week (FC 42-49 to FC77-
84). For the whole fattening period average feed conversion ratio (AFC), total body weight gain 
(TDG) and total feed consumption (TDF) were also reco ded. 
 
Statistical analysis 
 
The growth traits were analysed by the least-squares nalysis using the GLM procedure (SAS, 2005). 
The following linear model was used: 
 
Yijkl = µ + GENOTi + REPLj + GROUPk + (GENOT ×REPL)ij + eijkl 
 
where: 
yijkl -  observation, µ - overall mean, GENOTi - fixed effect of the i-th genotype, REPLj - fixed effect of 
the j-th replication, GROUPk - fixed effect of the k-th group, (GENOT ×REPL)i - fixed effect of the ij -
th interaction genotype × replication, eijklmn - random residual error 
 
The F-test statistic was used to determine the significa ce of the effects. Significance was set at 
P<0.05. The effect of sex was not included into the model due to the fact that the sex dimorphism was 
not proved yet in the rabbit (Krogmeier and Dzapo, 1991). 
 
 
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
 
The Table 2 shows the least squares means and standard errors for body weight and feed consumption 
of both genotypes and groups of 42 days body weight. 
 
 
Genetics 
 
257 
Table 2: Least squares means (LSM) and standard errors (SE) for genotypes, replications, significance 
of interaction genotype × replication and groups (Group1 – lower body weight; Group 2 - higher body 
weight at 42 days of age) 
Genotype Group 
59 ×19 119×19 1 2 
66 66 
Trait 
LSM SE LSM SE 
Prob. 
LSM SE LSM SE 
Prob. 
BW 42 1359.30 21.58 1351.42 20.26 0.7910 1248.74 15.13 1464.83 15.13 <.0001*** 
BW 49 1590.60 25.20 1583.50 23.65 0.8379 1492.63 22.23 1684.00 22.59 <.0001*** 
BW 56 1853.83 27.16 1786.92 25.45 0.0768 1724.10 24.53 1919.22 24.53 <.0001*** 
BW 63 2123.18 29.70 2047.58 27.87 0.0682 1973.68 26.16 2200.08 26.57 <.0001*** 
BW 70 2387.78 32.43 2276.58 30.43 0.0151* 2216.96 29.33 2450.49 29.80 <.0001*** 
BW 77 2618.78 35.13 2516.92 32.96 0.0385* 2450.49 32.54 2688.37 33.06 <.0001*** 
BW 84 2822.48 36.43 2723.00 34.18 0.0508 2656.46 34.28 2892.14 34.82 0.0001*** 
           
ADG 42-49 33.04 2.22 33.16 2.08 0.9711 34.84 2.38 31.31 2.42 0.3447 
ADG 49-56 37.60 1.90 29.06 1.78 0.0017** 33.07 2.05 33.60 2.09 0.8677 
ADG 56-63 38.48 2.29 37.24 2.15 0.6940 35.65 2.45 35.65 2.49 0.2465 
ADG 63-70 37.80 1.31 32.75 1.23 0.0064** 34.75 1.42 35.77 1.44 0.6462 
ADG 70-77 33.00 1.64 34.33 1.54 0.5567 33.36 1.78 33.98 1.80 0.8231 
ADG 77-84 29.10 1.50 29.44 1.41 0.8686 29.43 1.62 29.11 1.64 0.9006 
           
ADF 42-49 123.20 4.46 147.87 4.18 0.0002*** 127.91 143.36 143.36 4.72 0.0368* 
ADF 49-56 157.72 5.19 153.00 5.07 0.5266 152.70 5.82 158.09 5.91 0.5538 
ADF 56-63 178.66 5.01 170.49 4.70 0.2388 174.49 5.42 174.66 5.50 0.9848 
ADF 63-70 186.24 4.23 172.81 3.97 0.0239* 173.63 4.46 185.57 4.53 0.0911 
ADF 70-77 164.30 4.29 178.76 4.03 0.0168* 164.80 4.50 178.44 4.57 0.0563 
ADF 77-84 161.42 4.10 173.05 3.85 0.0430* 164.17 4.40 170.38 4.47 0.3694 
           
FC 42-49 3.81 0.20 4.47 0.19 0.0179* 3.89 0.21 4.39 0.21 0.1374 
FC 49-56 4.45 0.21 5.37 0.20 0.0026** 3.89 0.23 4.39 0.23 0.5010 
FC 56-63 4.60 0.21 4.87 0.20 0.3508 4.76 4.70 4.70 0.23 0.8545 
FC 63-70 4.91 0.16 5.26 0.16 0.1212 4.95 5.22 5.22 0.18 0.3171 
FC 70-77 5.05 0.22 5.39 0.20 0.2577 5.16 0.23 5.16 0.24 0.7477 
FC 77-84 5.94 0.29 5.86 0.27 0.8350 5.67 0.31 6.13 0.32 0.3424 
           
AFC 4.67 0.08 5.13 0.08 0.0002*** 4.81 0.09 4.98 0.09 0.2299 
TDG 1463.18 29.54 1371.58 27.72 0.0273* 1407.72 31.89 1427.31 32.40 0.6948 
TDF 6800.68 118.3 6971.83 111.05 0.2957 6703.94 124.24 7073.48 126.23 0.0610 
*P<0.05; **P<0.01; ***P<0.001; BW=body weight; ADG=average daily gains; ADF=average daily feed consumption; 
FC=feed conversion; AFC=average feed conversion; TDG=total gain; TDF=total feed consumption 
 
Influence of the genotype 
 
The difference between the genotypes (Table 2) was significant for body weight at 70 and at 77 days 
(P<0.05). There was no significant difference betwen the genotypes for other weights. During the 
whole fattening period the genotype (59 × 19) showed a lower feed consumption ratio (P<0.001), 
higher body weight at 70 and at 77 days and higher av age daily gain (ADG) (P<0.05). The highest 
significant difference between both genotypes was found for the body weight at 70 days (5.6%). The 
differences in body weight between the genotypes from this time declined. Similar values for body 
weights were published by Metzger t al. (2006) for the genotype (59 ×19). The same authors found a 
significantly lower feed consumption in the genotype (59 × 19) than in the genotype (119 x 19) for the 
time intervals 42-49, 70-77, 77-84 days (P<0.01, P<0.05 and P<0.05). On the contrary, the genotype 
(119 ×19) had a significant lower feed consumption n the interval 63-70 days (P<0.05). The 
differences between the genotypes in average daily g ins were not-significant for the most week 
periods. The only significant difference was detected in period 49-56 and 63-70 days. The genotype 
(59 ×19) had a lower total feed consumption (P<0.001) and a higher total gain (P<0.05). The 
differences between the genotypes in the feed conversion during the whole fattening period were not-
significant. Dědková et al. (2002) found similar results for the genotype (59 × 19). 
9th World Rabbit Congress – June 10-13, 2008 – Verona – It ly 
 
258 
Influence of the body weight at 42 days 
 
Highly significant differences were found between the wo groups for each body weight of the whole 
period (Table 2). On the contrary no significant difference was found for each weekly average daily 
gain during the whole period of fattening. Significant differences were found only for the average 
daily consumption at the beginning of the fattening period from 42 to 49 days. The difference for the 
other traits (feed conversion, average feed conversion, total gain, and total feed consumption) did not 
reach statistical significance. The Figure 1 demonstrates that both age groups showed a parallel growth 
trend during the fattening period. Growth compensation during the whole fattening period was not 
observed in the rabbits with a lower body weight at 42 days of age. The rabbits with higher weaning 
weight are of specially interest of farmers due to higher intensity of growth, lower feed consumptions 
and the shorter fattening period to the constant slaughter weight. 
700
1200
1700
2200
2700
35 42 49 56 63 70 77 84
Age (days)
w
e
ig
h
t 
(g
)
Observed weight of group 1 Observed weight of group 2
 
Figure 1: Approximation of the weaning weight and age 
 
Our results are inconsistent with another paper (Rommers et al., 2001). These authors found a growth 
compensation for rabbits with a lower weight at the beginning of fattening. The growth compensation 
was found also in other species of livestock. For instance Přibylová et al. (2004) found growth 
compensation in beef breeds in rearing houses and Barabasz and Łapiński (2007, personal 
information) in the Chinchilla. According to the same authors, the body weight at 42 days of age is an
important factor for the age, body weight at the end of fattening respectively. The growth of rabbits 
can be influenced by the age at weaning (Fergutson et al., 1997; Zita et al., 2007). On the other hand 
Tůmová et al. (2002) and Xiccato et al. (2003) mentioned that the different age at weaning did not 
affect the growth of rabbits. Our results show that we should focus our attention to higher weaning 
weights of rabbits, which gives higher and matched w ight of animals at slaughter. 
 
 
CONCLUSIONS 
 
Our experiment demonstrated that the body weight at the beginning of fattening of rabbits is strongly 
linked with body weight at the end of fattening. The results shown that the crossbred (59 × 19) is 
especially suitable for fattening to a greater carcass weight then the crossbred (119 × 19). The group of 
rabbits with a lower weight (group 1) with an average body weight of 1248.74 g at 42 days achieved a 
body weight of 2656.46 g at 84 days. The group of rabbits with a higher weight (group 2) with an 
average body weight of 1464.83 g at 42 days achieved a body weight of 2892.14 g at 84 days of age. 
Genetics 
 
259 
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS 
 
This work was supported by the Ministry of Education, Youth and Sports of the Czech Republic 
(Project No. MSM 6046070901). 
 
 
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260 
 


Genetics THE INFLUENCE OF WEANING WEIGHT ON GROWTH OF THE HYPLUS BROILER RABBIT

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Genetics THE INFLUENCE OF WEANING WEIGHT ON GROWTH OF THE HYPLUS BROILER RABBIT

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