Performance of imported and locally born commercial rabbits population in Egypt

The effects of group of doe, season of kindling, parity (as fixed effects) and doe within groups (as random effect) on reproductive performance were studied. The imported does were significantly superior than the locally bom does in the litter mass at 21 and 30 days in Bauscat and New Zealand breeds. Litter mass at 30 days of the imported does was better than that of the locally born does in Californian breed. Season of kindling significantly affected litter size and litter mass at birth, 21 and 30 days in all breeds, except litter size at birth in Bauscat breed. The highest litter size and litter mass were recorded during winter followed by spring in all breeds. Repeatability values of litter size and litter mass at different ages were low. The phenotypic correlations among all reproductive performance traits were positive. The unfavourable climatic conditions depressed the performance of the locally born does.