Effect of housing system and breed on growth, slaughter traits and meat quality traits in rabbits

Abstract

The aim of the study was to determine the effect of housing conditions and breed on the growth, slaughter traits and meat quality traits of Blanc de Termonde (n=34; 15♂, 19♀) and Popielno White (n=28; 15♂, 13♀) rabbits. Until weaning at 35 days of age the young rabbits were kept with their mothers in wooden hutches. After weaning they were divided into two groups. Rabbits from group I (n=42; 21♂ and 21♀) were kept two per cage in a battery system. Each cage was 40 cm wide, 90 cm long and 35 cm high. Animals from group II (n=20; 8♂ and 12♀) were kept in boxes with dimensions of 100 x 100 x 100 cm, on deep litter. Four or five rabbits were kept in each box, with males and females separated. The rabbits were feed pellets ad libitum. They were weighed weekly from birth to 12 weeks of age. Slaughter and dissection were performed at 12 weeks of age. At 45 min after slaughter the pH in the longissimus lumborum and biceps femoris muscles was measured, as well as the colour (L*, a*, b*). In the case of growth and slaughter traits, significant differences between housing systems were observed, but the housing systems was not found to significantly influence the dressing percentage or meat quality traits. Breed did not significantly influence body weight (except for litter weight at birth), slaughter traits, or meat quality traits.