Abstract

Rabbit breeding selection is an important livestock management practice that involves identifying and selecting rabbits with desirable characteristics for breeding purposes. Appropriate selection can contribute to improved growth, reproductive performance, litter size, disease resistance, meat production, and overall herd quality. Extension services can provide farmers with technical knowledge and practical guidance on identifying suitable breeding animals and applying appropriate selection criteria. This study will examine the effect of extension services on farmers’ adoption of rabbit breeding selection practices. The study will assess the extent of farmers’ access to extension services and determine how such services influence their adoption of recommended rabbit breeding selection practices. It will examine farmers’ exposure to extension visits, training, demonstrations, advisory services, and educational materials relating to rabbit breeding. The study will also assess farmers’ adoption of selection practices based on growth rate, body size, reproductive performance, litter size, health condition, survival, and other desirable characteristics. The study will focus on extension services, farmers, rabbit breeding selection, breeding stock selection, growth performance, reproductive performance, litter size, body size, health status, genetic improvement, breeding records, herd management, and rabbit production. Information will be obtained on farmers’ knowledge and application of recommended selection criteria and the sources of breeding information available to them. The study will also identify challenges such as inadequate extension contact, limited knowledge of selection criteria, poor breeding records, limited access to quality breeding stock, and financial constraints. A quantitative research approach will be adopted for the study. Data will be collected from rabbit farmers through structured questionnaires designed to obtain information on access to extension services and adoption of rabbit breeding selection practices. The collected data will be analysed using descriptive statistics such as frequencies, percentages, mean scores, and standard deviations. Inferential techniques such as correlation and regression analysis may also be used to determine the relationship between extension services and farmers’ adoption of recommended rabbit breeding selection practices. The study is expected to reveal that extension services may have a positive effect on farmers’ adoption of rabbit breeding selection practices. Farmers who receive regular training, demonstrations, farm visits, and advisory information may demonstrate better knowledge and greater use of appropriate selection criteria when choosing breeding animals. The study may also reveal that inadequate extension coverage, limited access to quality breeding stock, poor record keeping, insufficient technical knowledge, and financial constraints could limit the consistent adoption of recommended selection practices. The study will be useful to rabbit farmers, agricultural extension agents, livestock development agencies, animal production professionals, policymakers, researchers, and other stakeholders involved in rabbit production. It may provide useful information for strengthening extension programmes on rabbit breeding and improving farmers’ capacity to make informed breeding selection decisions. The findings may also assist relevant organisations in developing practical training programmes on breeding stock selection, performance assessment, and breeding record management. The study concludes that extension services are important for improving farmers’ knowledge and adoption of appropriate rabbit breeding selection practices. It is therefore recommended that agricultural extension agencies and livestock development organisations should provide regular training, practical demonstrations, farm visits, and advisory services on breeding stock selection and performance assessment. Farmers should also be encouraged to maintain accurate breeding records and apply appropriate selection criteria to support genetic improvement, productive rabbit herds, and sustainable rabbit production.

Keywords: Extension services, farmers, rabbit production, rabbit breeding, breeding selection, breeding stock, growth performance, reproductive performance, litter size, genetic improvement, breeding records, animal selection, herd management, livestock extension, rabbit farming.