An experiment was carried out in Egypt using Giza White rabbits to investigate their lactationai performance and to estimate the repeatabilities of milk yield and other litter traits. Data on 325 litters from 115 does fathered by 40 sires were used. Lactation traits involved milk yields during the first 7 days, 21 days and 35 days. Litter traits included litter size and weight at birth, number born alive, litter weight and gain at 21 days, litter size and weight at weaning and pre-weaning titter gain. Linear mixed models were used for analysing such data. Phenotypic variation in milk yield was relatively high during the first 7 days, and decreased thereafter with advance of lactation stage. Year-seastm effects were significant for most litter traits-, while month of kindling affected litter weight and gain at 21 days and milk yield during the first 7 days |
