Effect of genotype on productive and carcass traits of rabbits.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the production and carcass traits of growing rabbits when Pannon White does were inseminated with sires of different size selected for different directions. Pannon White does (n=80), were inseminated with sperm of maternal line (M), Pannon White (P), sire line (L), Hycole terminal sire line (H) bucks. Rabbits were weaned at the age of 35 days (n = 128), housed by twos then at the end of the experiment (at the age of 78 days) they were slaughtered. Progeny of the H bucks had the highest weight gain, feed consumption and body weight (at the age of 11 weeks). Worst results were found for the M and P groups. No differences were found for feed conversion ratio. The P rabbits had the best dressing out percentage highest ratio of the hind carcass part and ratio of the m. Longissimus dorsi. The worst slaughter performance, was shown by the H group. Based on the results it can be concluded that production traits (body weight, feed consumption, weight gain) were determined by the adult weight of the sires. On the contrary for the slaughter performance the effect of CT-aided selection was manifested. As a results of thigh muscle volume selection the hind carcass part ratio and the meat-to-bone ratio of the P rabbits improved