EFFECT OF BREED AND SEX ON PELT GROWTH OF NEW ZEALAND WHITE AND CHINCHILLA GIGANTAS RABBITS

Abstract

New Zealand White and Chinchilla Giganta rabbits are breeds of rabbits popularly known for their meat production and pet strain and usually produce top quality pelts when slaughtered. As the rabbits increased in sizes, so also are the pelt weight and pelt area which corresponded to the body volume and the vastness of the pelt. The research aim was to study the effect of breeds and sexes on the development of pelt. A total of 216 (54 males and 54 females of NZW; 54 males and 54 females of the Chinchilla Giganta) rabbits were used in this research. Data were analysed with analysis of variance using GenStat software and the pelt area was calculated using ImageJ analysis. Variables observed were pelt weights and pelt area. The results showed that sexes had no interaction on pelt area but the breed does, and as the rabbit’s increases in age, so also the increase in pelt weight and pelt area.