Effect of Weaning Age on the Survival Rate and Growth Performance of Rabbits Kept in the Western Highlands of Cameroon

Abstract

A study was conducted at the Nazareth Agro Pastoral Training Centre in Bamenda, Cameroon to determine the effect of weaning age on the survival rate and growth performances of rabbits kept in the Western Highlands of Cameroon. The research lasted for five months starting from April to August 2014 and aiming at looking for the appropriate age of weaning rabbit kits. Live weight and solid feed intake were recorded after every seven days depending on the kindling date of each doe to determine their increase in weight. The litter size, still birth, mortality and weaning age were monitored for all the kits. The rabbits were weighed pre-kindling and on the day of kindling with their kits. The mortality rate was registered as well as the feed consumed during this period.  Doe selection was done based on live body weight. The does were grouped into three groups: one having does with weights less than 2900g, group two having does with weight ranging between 2900g and 3200g and the last group with does with live weights above 3200g. Weaning was done in three phases 21days, 28days, and 35days, respectively. Data collected from the experiment were subjected to Analysis of Variance and Descriptive Statistics using Microsoft Excel application. The results obtained showed that there was a significant difference (P<0.05) among means of average weights of animals weaned at the 21 days, 28 days and 35 days of  age. The best survival rates of rabbit kids were obtained when the animals were weaned at 35days of age.