Modeling of growth curve in farm bred broiler rabbits in organized rabbitry

Abstract

Rabbit rearing across the Indian subcontinent is growing rapidly. Growth traits are important parameters on which rabbits are being evaluated. Mathematical models have been tried to establish a relationship between body weight and time. Data spread over six years on the weekly body weight of Soviet Chinchilla and White Giant rabbits were collected and subjected to analysis for assessment of genetic parameters and factors which influence the weekly body weight. Three nonlinear growth models; Gompertz, Logistic, and Von Bertalanffy were fitted for both the breeds separately as well as collectively. The least squares mean for weekly body weights in rabbits from weaning to maturity showed an increasing trend. White Giant rabbits weigh higher than Soviet Chinchilla. The period and season of kindling had a significant influence on the weekly body weight of rabbits. The value of growth curve parameter k (an indicator of growth performance) was estimated to be higher for White Giant by all three models. All three models performed well with a high coefficient of determination values. However, Von Bertalanffy model fitted well for Soviet Chinchilla and Gompertz model for the White Giant as well as when both the breeds were fitted collectively.