A note on heritabilities for preweaning and postweaning litter weights of unselected domestic rabbits in southeastern Nigeria

Data from 178 kittens born in 34 litters sired by seven bucks mated to 21 does were used to obtain heritabilities for litter weights of unselected non-descript rabbits. Litter weights were measured at birth (LWB), weaning at 21 days (LWW), 42 days (LW42), and 56 days (LW56). A single trait model with repeated record on the dams was used to estimate variance components. Sire heritabilities for LWB, LWW, LW42, and LW56 were 0.34 ± 0.41, 0.79 ± 0.63, 0.91 ± 1.20, and 0.62 ± 0.542, respectively. High standard errors were due to low accuracy of the sire variance component. Moderate to high heritability values imply that selection would be efficient to improve litter weights at or after weaning.