Rabbit Genetics

ANTONINI, A.G.

Córdoba

Congreso; IV Congreso de Cunicultura de las Américas; 2010

World Rabbit Association

Although the origin of the rabbit is unknown, some researchers argue that it comes from Central Asia and others consider that it possibly originated in Africa. All claim that its migration to the coastal zone of Spain allowed it to find a suitable environment for their development and reproduction due to the characteristics of the climate, soil suitability for burrow caves construction and a smaller number of predatory species (Camps, 1994, 1997, Gibb, 1990). The domestication of the rabbit began late compared with most of the species of zootechnical interest (cattle, sheep, pigs, birds, etc); controlled breeding began at the end of the middle ages when describing the first races (Morton, 2002). Early 19th century Europe, Australia and New Zealand the stage of breeding rabbits began in cages. Systematic breeding in our country began in the middle of last century with the introduction of angora rabbits, such exploitation declined rapidly and was replaced by breeds of meat rabbits. There are various races defined by morphological characters (coat color, ears, etc.) and weight (small, medium and large), many of them originating from crosses between race Neozelandic, Californian, Chinchilla, etc. or these races with wild rabbits. Characters to select related to meat production can be considered from at least four ways, according to productive or reproductive stadium for both sexes. This allows us to group them into characters that impact on fertility, prolificity, survival and weight and study their relationships and interactions (Antonini, 2007). Most selection plans have been focused on the prolificity and, indirectly, with low pressure resulting, on fertility (Piles et al., 2003; Antonini et al, 2009). Some characters, as weaning litter size, are associated directly both to total born litter size as to alive born litter size (Prayaga et al., 2002), in such a way that correlated response can be expected. Characters associated with fitness (fertility, prolificity, survival) even those not included in breeding programs are subject to some degree of selection pressure since the animals to be retained on the farm must be left, at least, a viable offspring.; controlled breeding began at the end of the middle ages when describing the first races (Morton, 2002). Early 19th century Europe, Australia and New Zealand the stage of breeding rabbits began in cages. Systematic breeding in our country began in the middle of last century with the introduction of angora rabbits, such exploitation declined rapidly and was replaced by breeds of meat rabbits. There are various races defined by morphological characters (coat color, ears, etc.) and weight (small, medium and large), many of them originating from crosses between race Neozelandic, Californian, Chinchilla, etc. or these races with wild rabbits. Characters to select related to meat production can be considered from at least four ways, according to productive or reproductive stadium for both sexes. This allows us to group them into characters that impact on fertility, prolificity, survival and weight and study their relationships and interactions (Antonini, 2007). Most selection plans have been focused on the prolificity and, indirectly, with low pressure resulting, on fertility (Piles et al., 2003; Antonini et al, 2009). Some characters, as weaning litter size, are associated directly both to total born litter size as to alive born litter size (Prayaga et al., 2002), in such a way that correlated response can be expected. Characters associated with fitness (fertility, prolificity, survival) even those not included in breeding programs are subject to some degree of selection pressure since the animals to be retained on the farm must be left, at least, a viable offspring., according to productive or reproductive stadium for both sexes. This allows us to group them into characters that impact on fertility, prolificity, survival and weight and study their relationships and interactions (Antonini, 2007). Most selection plans have been focused on the prolificity and, indirectly, with low pressure resulting, on fertility (Piles et al., 2003; Antonini et al, 2009). Some characters, as weaning litter size, are associated directly both to total born litter size as to alive born litter size (Prayaga et al., 2002), in such a way that correlated response can be expected. Characters associated with fitness (fertility, prolificity, survival) even those not included in breeding programs are subject to some degree of selection pressure since the animals to be retained on the farm must be left, at least, a viable offspring., indirectly, with low pressure resulting, on fertility (Piles et al., 2003; Antonini et al, 2009). Some characters, as weaning litter size, are associated directly both to total born litter size as to alive born litter size (Prayaga et al., 2002), in such a way that correlated response can be expected. Characters associated with fitness (fertility, prolificity, survival) even those not included in breeding programs are subject to some degree of selection pressure since the animals to be retained on the farm must be left, at least, a viable offspring.