CHARACTERIZATION OF THE DOE MILK PRODUCTION WITH EMPHASIS IN THE SURVIVAL AND LITTER GROWTH IN THE BREEDS NEW WHITE AND CALIFORNIA RABBIT

Abstract

The objective was integrating the knowledge genetic and environmental factors that impact on milk production (MP) of the doe and its effect in the survival and litter growth. The MP is related with the growth and survival of the litter during the first three weeks of life. Differences exist in MP among breeds pure and crossbreed. The index heredability (h2) for MP in New Zealand White, California and reciprocate crossbreed was of 0.12%. The low h2 it establishes a bigger environmental effect on MP. The MP reaches its maximum production (219.6 g) with 12 rabbit kits /litter. This has an increment during the first 15 days postpartum and there is a decrease from the day 21 postpartum. The MP is determined by the physiologic condition of the doe: nursling- pregnant (130 g/day) or nursling-empty (141 g/day). Doe with 10 nipples produced 10% more milk that those with eight. The MP reaches its production pick to the third parity number and it diminishes starting from the fifth parity number. For each centigrade grade for up of 20°C the MP diminishes 7.7 g/day. The main factors that influence on the MP of the doe are not attributable to these. Therefore, it is important to control the random nature of most of the no-genetic factors that affect MP.