Modeling growth performance of heterogeneous rabbits in a pastured system using nonlinear, spline and random regression models.

ABSTRACT: Accurate modeling of growth trajectories is critical for decision-making in rabbit production, particularly under low-input systems. However, limited studies have evaluated the comparative performance of growth models for rabbits reared in such systems. This study evaluated the growth performance of heterogeneous rabbits using three modeling approaches. Weekly body weight records of 343 rabbits from birth to 20 weeks of age across four parities were analyzed. Four classical nonlinear models (Gompertz, Logistic, von Bertalanffy, and Richards) were fitted using the NLIN procedure of SAS®. Further, the REG procedure of SAS® was used to fit four linear spline models (SP3 to SP6) while four random regression models with varying variance-covariance structures (Compound Symmetry, Unstructured, Au

SUBMITTER: Bashiru HA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12666363 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature