Comparison of milk production and milk composition for an exotic and a local synthetic rabbit lines

AIM: Basic objective of this research was to compare two rabbit lines: V-line (exotic line), Alexandria (local synthetic line) for yield and composition of milk product and their effect on productive performance of rabbits. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The experiment was conducted on 80 does and their kits. Milk yield (MY) of each doe and milk composition (MC) were recorded at 3(rd) week of lactation. RESULTS: The results of MY showed insignificant difference between V-line and Alexandria line. While the results of MC indicated significant differences in milk protein and fat between the two lines. The protein electrophoresis was used for assaying variation in milk proteins between the two lines. The banding protein patterns showed seven protein bands for Alexandria line and six bands for V line. The results demonstrated one specific protein marker at 48 KDa (κ-casein) in Alexandria doe’s milk. Moreover, the results of individual body weight at weaning age indicated that Alexandria rabbits had significantly higher body weight compared with V-line rabbits (845.33 g, 664.05 g, respectively). Alexandria line had significantly lower mortality rate compared with V-line (1.5%, 2.7%, respectively). CONCLUSION: The differences which obtained in Alexandria line milk may play an important role in the productive performance of rabbits.