Genetic Analyses of Rabbit Survival and Individual Birth Weight

Simple Summary Kit survival in the first hours after farrowing has been related to the birth weight of kits. In prolific species, newborn survival is controlled both by the genes of the newborns that are involved in vitality, health, and growth (direct genetic effects), and by the dam effects that affect milk yield and other mothering abilities (maternal effects). Genetic parameters of peri and postnatal survival have been estimated traditionally on the performance of dam (assuming normally distributed continuous traits), but it is more appropriate to consider as categorical traits of the kit. The objective of this study was to estimate the heritabilities of kit survival at birth and weaning, as well as the individual birth weight, and the genetic correlations between those survival traits and birth weight using a combined linear threshold model with a Bayesian approach. Heritabilities of survival at birth and weaning, as well as birth weight, were low (0.021 and 0.027) for survival traits and slightly greater (0.146) for birth weight after adjusted litter size. No genetic correlation was found between survival traits. Genetic correlation between survival at birth and birth weight showed a positive value (+0.134 and +0.535 after being adjusted for litter size). These magnitudes of genetic parameter estimates suggested that there is substantial potential for the genetic improvement of kit survival at birth through selection for birth weight. Genetic parameters of kit survival traits and birth weight were estimated on ITELV2006 synthetic line aimed at improving kit survival using a multiple trait linear and threshold model. Data on 1696 kits for survival at birth and at weaning, as well as individual birth weight and litter size were analysed. Genetic effects of kit survival traits and birth weight were estimated based on threshold and Gaussian models, respectively, using a Bayesian approach. The statistical model included, as fixed effects, parity, lactation status, season of farrowing, nest status, cannibalism in kit, place of kit's birth in the cage and gender, and adjustment for litter size. Posterior means of heritabilities for direct genetic effects of survival at birth and the entire nursing period, as well as birth weight, were 0.018, 0.023, and 0.088, respectively, and were increased when adjusted for litter size to 0.021, 0.027 and 0.146. Genetic correlation between survival traits was zero. Therefore, these traits can be treated genetically as different traits. Genetic correlation between direct effects of survival at birth and birth weight showed positive, but low, value (+0.134) and was increased to +0.535 when the traits were adjusted for litter size. No genetic correlation was found between survival at weaning and birth weight. These magnitudes of genetic parameter estimates suggested that there is substantial potential for the genetic improvement of kit survival at birth through selection for birth weight.

Automated summary

The survival of newborn kits in the first hours after farrowing is related to their birth weight. This study aimed to estimate the heritabilities of kit survival at birth and weaning, as well as birth weight, and the genetic correlations between these traits. The results showed that birth weight has a substantial potential for improving kit survival at birth through selection.