ALMA LLAMBIRI (DAIJA)1*, LUMTURI PAPA1
1Department of Animal Production Husbandry, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment Agricultural University of Tirana, Albania
*Corresponding author e-mail: daijaalma@yahoo.it
Abstract:
Rabbit is a species with restricted spread in Albania. It is a population with morphological and biological variability and with high variation in coat color. Six measures of body conformation of six rabbit subpopulations were analyzed to determine the quantity of local differentiation of Albanian rabbit population. Data analyses showed that: (i) the local rabbits breed is classified in middle breeds group with harmonic body development: adult females and males have a body weight respectively of 3-3.5 kg and 4-5 kg. The female rabbits reach sexual maturity at the age 11-12 months. It is coupled 4-5 times a year. Total number of rabbits born is about 8.5 (5-12). During a year a female rabbit grows on average 30-32 young rabbits. Litter size at weaning is 5.5 (3-8). Litter weight at birth (g) is 344; (294-394). Body weights at weaning (5 weeks) and at 14 weeks is respectively, 780; (510-1050) and 2223.65 (2188.7-2258.6). (ii) the Albanian local rabbit population is distinguished for considerable level of local differentiation (iii) the main factor of this differential is the isolation in distance of rabbit subpopulations (iv) Local differential can contribute in genetic variability conservation of local rabbit population of Albania that is actually in the process of genetic erosion.
Keywords: Local differentiation; discriminate analyses; cluster analyses; local population; rabbit.
