EVALUATION OF APPLICATION OF THE INTENSIVE RABBIT PRODUCTION SYSTEM UNDER THE SUB-TROPICAL CONDITIONS OF EGYPT

[EN] The study included 747 litters obtained from 173 New ~aland White (NZW) does, during one calendar year. Mating was 1rried out at the start of the breeding season (October), then on the 1cond day after kindling. Pregnancy diagnosis was carried out ten 1ys after service and the empty does were rebred in the sama day. 1e results showed that the highest percentage of litters carne from atings carried out within the first ten days after kindling (55.4%), llowed by those matad> 30 days (18.1%), 11 - 20 days (14.7%) id 21 - 30 days (11.9%) after kindling. The effects of open days amating interval) on most of the studied traits were not significant. 1e average theoretical number of litters/year (classified according to ndling intervals) was 8.7. The study of the litter size showed that 5 - kits was the most frequent size (47.5%), followed by~ 8 (28.4%) and :s; 4 (24.1%) kits/litter. The traits which were significantly (P