Direct (HI) and maternal (HM) heterosis, direct (GI) and maternal (GM) additive effects and direct recombination effects (RI) were estimated for litter size and weight at birth and weaning, milk yield at 7, 21 days and total lactation and pre-weaning feed consumption and conversion per litter in two generations of crossbreeding project involving Spanish breed called V-line (V) and Saudi Gabali (G) rabbits. Variance components and heritabilities were also estimated using DFREML procedure of multi-trait animal model.
V-line rabbits had superior performance in terms of most traits compared to G rabbits. The estimates of GI and GM for most traits were moderate or somewhat high and significantly in favour of V-line rabbits. Crossing of G rabbits with V was associated with significant positive HI and HM for some traits under the study. The estimates of heritability (h2A ) for most traits were low or somewhat moderate. In practice, V bucks could be used as sires or dams in crossbreeding stratification systems under hot climatic conditions in Saudi Arabia.