The currently high rate of inflation in Nigeria necessitates the need to conduct more researches on rabbits for more affordability of animal proteins via accelerated improvement in rabbit production techniques. Therefore, this study was aimed at estimating heritability and repeatability for pre-weaning litter traits and body characteristics of 300 kits obtained from five rabbit breeds (Rex, California, New Zealand White, Dutch belted and locally adapted breeds) and their crosses. Data were taken weekly from 7 days to 28 days of age on pre-weaning body weights and reproductive traits using a Bench electronic scale while morphometric traits were measured using a Generic measuring tape and a 30-centimetre metric ruler. Data was analyzed using mixed model least squares and maximum likelihood computer program of Harvey (1987). Heritability for litter traits ranged from medium (0.12) to high (0.70) while for body weights and morphometric traits, it ranged from low (0.01) to high (0.95). The high heritability results indicated body weights may be improved through individual selection while traits with low heritability could be improved upon by crossbreeding. Furthermore, a combination of pedigree and individual selection could be done for moderately heritable traits.The repeatability estimates for all traits ranged from low (0.01) to medium (0.49). These showed low chances of these records being repeated. Therefore, assessment of several parities should be done before actual selection is carried out for rabbit breed improvement.

Key words: Litter size, body weight, body length, gestation length, kits