This study was conducted to evaluate heterosis and combining abilities of growth traits including body weight, relative growth rate (RGR) and average daily gain (ADG) in a complete 3x3 diallel crossbreeding experiment [Géant Blanc du Bouscat (B), Californian (C) and New Zealand White (N) Breeds].
All crossbreds and reciprocals showed negative heterosis % for body weight at all ages studied except BN crossbred showed positive heterosis % at 4 weeks age (12.34 %). All crossbreds and reciprocals showed negative heterosis % for RGR at 4-6 and 4-12 weeks of age intervals. At 6-8 weeks of age interval, all crossbreds and reciprocals showed negative heterosis % except BN crossbred (10.28 %) and NC reciprocal crossbred (0.45 %). CN crossbred showed the highest positive heterosis % at 8-10 weeks of age interval (64.55 %). NB reciprocal crossbred recorded the highest positive heterosis % at 10-12 weeks of age interval (64.55 %). All crossbreds and reciprocals showed negative heterosis % for ADG at all ages intervals studied except at 10-12 weeks of age interval all crossbreds and reciprocals.
The effect of general combining ability on all studied traits was non-significant. On the contrary, the effect of specific combining ability was highly significant (p ≤ 0.01) and significant (p ≤ 0.05) except for ADG at 8-10 and 10-12 weeks of age intervals were non-significant. New Zealand White rabbit showed the highest number of positive result of general combining ability for growth traits at most ages. BN crossbred recorded the highest number of positive estimate of specific combining ability for growth traits at most ages.
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