COMPARATIVE EVALUATION OF PROTEIN PROFILES AND CARCASS QUALITY TRAITS OF SOME RABBIT GENOTYPES IN SOUTH-WESTERN NIGERIA

A study on protein profiles and carcass quality traits was conducted using four purebred rabbits comprising New Zealand White (NZW), Chinchilla (CHL), Zealand Red (NZR) and the Cinnamon(CNM) in a diallele crossbreeding experiment that generated 16 genotypes involving four straight breeds and 12 crossbreds respectively. The performance of these rabbit genotypes was monitored to evaluate the crossbreeding effect on blood protein and carcass traits. Genotypes significantly (P<0.05) affected blood protein studied in which better performances were recorded in Cinnamon (CNM), New Zealand Red (NZR)and their crosses. Carcass quality traits also followed a similar pattern as obtained in blood proteins. The CNM, NZR and their cross recorded high live weight with higher percentage dressed weight due to high level of means of meat to bone ratio (61:24%) coupled with lowest percentage of Gastro Intestinal Tract (GIT) which statistically (P<0.05) accounted for less than 15% of its total carcass yield. The study therefore underscored the importance of crossbreeding effect in improving the protein and the carcass yield in rabbits, for sustainable livestock development in Africa.