ABSTRACT Productive and reproductive performances of New Zealand White and Soviet Chinchilla breeds of rabbit were studied under the sub-tropical climate of Tripura in India. Data from 261 litters were collected and studied. Both the breeds under study performed equally well. Only the number of service per conception and inter kindling interval were significantly (p&lt;0.01) higher in New Zealand White than Soviet Chinchilla. Both the breed and sex of the rabbit had no significant effect on individual body weight at weaning (d-42) as well as at day of slaughter (d-90). Season of kindling exerted highly significant (p&lt;0.01) effect on service period, kindling interval, and individual weight at weaning (d-42) and at slaughtering age (d-90). Winter season (November-March) was the most favourable season for kindling in terms of both their productive as well as reproductive efficiency where as summer season (April-June) turned to be the most unfavourable season. Age at first fertile service, age at first kindling, gestation period, litter size at birth did not influence by the season of kindling

Bujarbaruah K M

Das A

Das Asit

Dhiman K R

Ghosh S K

Singh N P

CiteSeerX

 1188
STUDIES ON THE PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCES OF 
SOVIET CHINCHILLA AND NEW ZEALAND WHITE BREEDS OF RABBIT UNDER 
THE SUBTROPICAL CONDITION OF TRIPURA 
 
GHOSH S. K.1, DAS A.2,BUJARBARUAH K. M.3,DAS ASIT4, DHIMAN K. R.5,SINGH N. P.6 
 
1Department of Animal Reproduction, ICAR, Lembucherra,Tripura-799 210.India 
2Department of Animal Production, ICAR, Umiam, Meghalaya. India 
3Director, ICAR , Umiam, Meghalaya. India 
4Department of Animal Nutrition, IVRI, Izatnagar, Bareilly. UP 243 122.India 
5Department of Plant Breeding, ICAR , Umiam, Meghalaya. India 
6Joint Director, ICAR, Lembucherra,Tripura-799 210.India 
subrata_kghosh@yahoo.co.in 
 
 
ABSTRACT 
 
Productive and reproductive performances of New Zealand White and Soviet Chinchilla 
breeds of rabbit were studied under the sub-tropical climate of Tripura in India. Data 
from 261 litters were collected and studied. Both the breeds under study performed 
equally well. Only the number of service per conception and inter kindling interval were 
significantly (p<0.01) higher in New Zealand White than Soviet Chinchilla. Both the 
breed and sex of the rabbit had no significant effect on individual body weight at 
weaning (d-42) as well as at day of slaughter (d-90). Season of kindling exerted highly 
significant (p<0.01) effect on service period, kindling interval, and individual weight at 
weaning (d-42) and at slaughtering age (d-90). Winter season (November-March) was 
the most favourable season for kindling in terms of both their productive as well as 
reproductive efficiency where as summer season (April-June) turned to be the most 
unfavourable season. Age at first fertile service, age at first kindling, gestation period, 
litter size at birth did not influence by the season of kindling. 
 
 
 Key words: new zealand white, soviet chinchilla, rabbit, season, production, 
reproduction. 
 
 
INTRODUCTION 
 
North-Eastern India is mostly inhabited by tribal and meat is one of the major protein 
sources of the tribal population of entire north eastern India in general and Tripura in 
particular. There is minimum taboo attached among the population of this region for the 
consumption of meat from domesticated or wild animal. But there is a wide gap between 
demand and production of meat in this particular area. Moreover, the cost of feed is very 
high due to the land-lock situation of this area and there by cost of production is also 
high. In this context, broiler rabbit would provide a new avenue for meat production and 
could play a major role in augmenting the animal protein supplies mainly because of its 
small size, low space requirement, rapid growth rate, high reproductive efficiency and 
Proceedings - 8th World Rabbit Congress – September 7-10, 2004 – Puebla, Mexico
 1189
ability to utilize non-competitive feed. Also one of the major advantages of rabbit farming 
in this area is that they can be fed forages and agricultural by-product that are not 
suitable for human consumption leads to low production cost. The rabbit meat is 
delicious, tender, juicy and high in protein content with little fat and hence would be 
suitable for all categories of people. No study has been done on the adaptability of any 
breeds of broiler rabbits in Tripura for the profitable meat production. Therefore, the 
present investigation was undertaken to study the both productive and reproductive 
performances under this climatic condition and their adaptability involving Soviet 
Chinchilla and New Zealand White as broiler breeds.  
 
 
MATERIALS AND METHODS 
 
Data on 261 litters belonging to two breeds of broiler rabbit viz. Soviet Chinchilla (158) 
and New Zealand White (103) during the year 1998-2003 maintained at the ICAR 
Tripura Centre were collected and analysed. These two breeds only were selected due 
to their easy availability as broiler breed from the nearby region. The place of study was 
located at 22o56' to 24032' north latitude and 91o10' to 92o21' east longitude and 
characterized by a warm and humid subtropical climate with 3 distinct seasons such as 
summer (April-June), rainy (July-October) and winter (November-March). The maximum 
and minimum air temperature are generally found to vary from 24.2-35.10C and 8.4-
24.50C, respectively with an average rainfall is 2065 mm. Animals were kept in individual 
cages made by galvanized welded wire (size: 45 cm × 55 cm × 42 cm) from 42 days 
onward (after weaning). These cages were constructed as single row in a well-ventilated 
concrete house. Commercial pellets and green fodder (leaves of cauliflower, cabbage, 
radish, cow pea maize, mulberry, spinach) grown at rabbit farm (25-30: 70-75) were 
used as their feed. Feeding and management practices were uniform throughout the 
period. Females and males were allowed for mating at the age of six and seven months, 
respectively. Female used to bring to the male’s cage for breeding. In case of 
unsuccessful mating, the same procedures were followed after 4 days of unsuccessful 
mating. Diagnosis of pregnancy was performed between the 15th and 17th day of mating. 
In positive case, the doe had been managed and fed accordingly. If the doe found non-
pregnant, allowed for mating immediately. Kits were weaned at the age of 42 days. 
Females were allowed to rebreed immediately after weaning.  
 
Data on both productive and reproductive performances were recorded. The productive 
and reproductive traits included in this study were age at first fertile service, age at first 
kindling, gestation period, litter size at birth and at weaning, litter weight at birth, and 
individual weight at weaning (day 42) and at day of slaughter (day 90). To see the effect 
of seasons of kindling on the productive and reproductive traits, least-squares analysis 
were carried out (HARVEY, 1975). For pair mean comparison, Duncan’s multiple range 
test (DMRT) as modified by KRAMER (1957) was used.  
 
 
Proceedings - 8th World Rabbit Congress – September 7-10, 2004 – Puebla, Mexico
 1190
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 
 
Age at first kindling (219.05 ± 7.02 to 224.90 ± 5.15 days) for both Soviet Chinchilla (SC) 
and New Zealand White (NZW) breeds did not differ significantly (Table 1). But, 
significantly younger age at first kindling was reported in NZW than SC breeds by the 
BUJARBARUAH et al. (1989) which might be due to the different agro climatic conditions. 
Duncan’s multiple range test revealed that NZW breed required significantly (p<0.01) 
more number of services per conception and higher (p<0.01) inter kindling intervals than 
SC breed. In both the parameters, BUJARBARUAH et al. (1989) reported the opposite 
findings which could be due to the environmental effect on the breeds as the work 
conducted under cold and dry climate. Other reproductive and productive parameters 
like gestation period, litter size at birth and litter weight at birth did not differ significantly 
between the two breeds. Both the breeds and sex of the animal had no significant effect 
on individual body weight at weaning (day-42) as well as at day of slaughter (day-90) 
which supports the observations of DAMODAR and JATKAR (1985) under sub-tropical 
climate and KUMAR et al. (2001) at semiarid region  in India. In this study, both the 
breeds attained individual body weight at day-42 and day-90 were comparatively higher 
than the other reports from the different agro-climatic parts of India (KUMAR et al.,2001 
and GUPTA et al.,2002. The results indicated the influence of the climate and the quality 
of the feed and fodder available to the rabbits during study for higher growth rate. 
Therefore, the data on productivity indicates that both the breeds were performed 
equally well in Tripura condition and could be used for profitable meat producing animal. 
 
Season of birth had highly significant (p<0.01) effect on individual body weights at 
weaning as well as at the day of slaughter. Animal born during the winter, attained 
significantly (p<0.01) higher body weight than animal born during summer season but 
had no significant effect when kits born in rainy season (Table 2). Seasonal effect on 
early growth of rabbit had also reported by KHALIL et al. (1987) and KUMAR et al. (2001). 
The difference associated with season of kindling can be attributed to prevalent 
environmental condition and associated stress factors affecting feed intake is reported 
as decline in pelleted feed intake (EBERHART, 1980). The higher growth rate also could 
be due to the availability of plenty of green forages in winter as well as in rainy season. 
 
The overall means for the age at first fertile service, age at first kindling and gestation 
period of rabbit under study were 191.67±6.18, 221.98±6.20 and 30.31±0.45 days, 
respectively (Table 2). Variation in these traits due to season of kindling were not 
significant. The mean age at first fertile service was found comparable of reports of Das 
and NAYAK (1991) and CHOUDHARY et al. (2001) under hot and humid conditions. Service 
period and kindling interval were effected significantly (p<0.01) by season of kindling. 
Winter season was found as the best season for kindling with shortest service period 
and kindling interval. Seasonal effect on service period and kindling interval were also 
reported by HOFFMAN et al. (1989) and CHOUDHARY et al. (2001). Season had no 
significant effect on litter size at birth (mean: 6.30±0.58) as well as at weaning (mean: 
5.38±0.60). Although litter weight at birth did not influence by season (mean: 
335.98±9.80 gram) but individual weight at weaning and at day 90 had significant 
(p<0.01) effect on season. It might due to the environmental stress as well as availability 
of forages. It has also been observed that the maximum kindling took place during the  
Proceedings - 8th World Rabbit Congress – September 7-10, 2004 – Puebla, Mexico
 1191
winter season (134) followed by rainy (67) and summer (60) seasons indicating that the 
winter is the most favourable season for the conception, kindling and after-birth care of 
newborns. 
 
Table 1. Mean ± SE of some of the productive and reproductive traits in rabbits. 
 
Breeds Characters 
NZW SC 
Age at first kindling 
 (days) 
224.90 ± 5.15 
(42) 
219.05±7.02 
(48) 
Gestation period  
 (days) 
30.43 ± 0.51 
(103) 
30.20± 0.41 
(158) 
Litter size at birth  
 (No.) 
6.08 ± 0.50 
(103) 
6.52± 0.69 
(158) 
Litter wt. at birth  
 (g) 
318.35±14.10 
(103) 
354.35±11.64 
(158) 
Number of Services 
per conception 
2.10 ± 0.11a 
(103) 
1.82± 0.20 b 
(158) 
Inter kindling interval  
 (days) 
99.58 ± 3.19 a 
(90) 
87.10 ± 2.10 b 
(138) 
Individual wt. at weaning  
 (kg)                 Male 
                                  Female 
 
 0.686± 0.05 
 0.691± 0.09 
 
0.720± 0.07 
0.699± 0.11 
Individual  wt. at day 90  
 (kg)   Male        
                                 Female 
 
1.94 ± 0.09 
1.88 ± 0.01 
 
1.98 ± 0.03 
1.89 ± 0.07 
Figures in parenthesis indicate number of observations. Figures with superscripts 
common in rows do not differ significantly. g: gram, kg: kilogram 
(p< 0 .01) 
 
 
CONCLUSIONS 
 
From the results of the above study it may be concluded that both the breeds under 
study for early growth and reproduction performed equally well under Tripura climate 
and could be used for profitable meat producing animal. It has, also been observed that 
season of birth affected the individual weight at weaning (d-42) as well as at marketable 
age or slaughter age (d-90). Winter season was found to be the best and summer 
season was the poorest in respect of all productive traits studied. Winter season also 
was found as the best season for kindling with the shortest service period and kindling 
interval. However, more work is necessary to develop a suitable package of practices for 
the establishment of economically viable rabbit farming in this region. 
 
Proceedings - 8th World Rabbit Congress – September 7-10, 2004 – Puebla, Mexico
 
11
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Proceedings - 8th World Rabbit Congress – September 7-10, 2004 – Puebla, Mexico
 1193
 
REFERENCES 
 
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factors on weekly body weight of broiler rabbits in semi arid region of Rajasthan. 
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Proceedings - 8th World Rabbit Congress – September 7-10, 2004 – Puebla, Mexico


STUDIES ON THE PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCES OF SOVIET CHINCHILLA AND NEW ZEALAND WHITE BREEDS OF RABBIT UNDER THE SUBTROPICAL CONDITION OF TRIPURA

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STUDIES ON THE PRODUCTIVE AND REPRODUCTIVE PERFORMANCES OF SOVIET CHINCHILLA AND NEW ZEALAND WHITE BREEDS OF RABBIT UNDER THE SUBTROPICAL CONDITION OF TRIPURA

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