Scienceline Publications World'€™s Veterinary Journal 2322-4568 11 2 2021 June Effects of Genotype and Weaning Age Interaction on Growth Traits in Rabbits 249 256 http://wvj.science-line.com/attachments/article/65/WVJ%2011(2)%20249-256%20,%20June%2025,%202021.pdf EN Mohamed Ragab Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt Saad Mohamed Mostfa Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Kafrelsheikh University, 33516, Kafrelsheikh, Egypt Khaled Hassan El-Kholy Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, 34518, Damietta, Egypt Lamia M. Radwan Poultry Production Department, Faculty of Agriculture, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt Abeer El-Shafie Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, 34518, Damietta, Egypt Ibrahim Talat El-Ratel Department of Poultry Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Damietta University, 34518, Damietta, Egypt Weaning age is an important factor that affects the growth and health of weaned animals. Therefore, the current experiment was conducted to study genotype (G) and weaning age (WA) interaction (G×WA) effects on growth traits of the animals belonged to two lines of rabbits (APRI and V line) reared under Egyptian conditions. Multiparous doe rabbits were serviced to obtain 225 litters with 1800 young rabbits at weaning. The weaning ages ranged from 26 to 43 days where the young rabbits were weaned at different ages (28 days, WA1; 28 Treatment 35 days, WA2; 35 Treatment 40 day, WA3 and 40 Treatment, WA4). Body weight (BW) from 4 to 16 weeks of age and corresponding average daily gain (ADGt1-t2) were measured. The BW significantly increased in APRI rabbits, compared to those in V line at the different ages where at the end of the fattening period, the difference was 105 g per animal with higher ADG. Regarding the weaning age effects, positive effects were observed where the highest BW was observed at the fattening period. The ADG of rabbits weaned in late weaning was higher than in early weaning with significant differences. The observed results suggest the existence of relevant G×WA interaction for the investigated traits. Therefore, the weaning age of 29-35 days is recommended for young APRI rabbits while it is suggested to wean the V rabbits after 35 days. The study confirmed that early weaning is not preferable for the rabbit under Egyptian conditions and it is better to wean young rabbits at the minimum age of 30 days to achieve the best BW and growth rate. Fattening period Genotype Growth traits Rabbit Weaning age