Birth Weight Criterion of Dwarfism in the Rabbit

Abstract

Conclusions

When the birth weight of a rabbit as determined by the routine procedure described is less than 50.1 % of the weight of his heaviest littermate, a diagnosis of dwarfism is warranted. The birth weights of unusually small, nonviable animals derived from known transmitters of the abnormality fall below the 50.1% class, and these animals are, therefore, genetically true dwarfs in the sense that their abnormally low weights cannot be ascribed to environmental and nutritive factors operating in the interval between birth and the weight determination.