Growth and carcass characteristics of rabbits housed in open-air or standard sy...

• Author(s): Pinheiro, V.M ; Silva, S.R ; Silva, J.A ; Outor-Monteiro, D ; Mourão, J.L
• Date: 2008
• Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10348/2568
• Origin: Repositório da UTAD
• Subject(s): Rabbit; Growth; Carcass; Housing system; Organic
• Document Type: Conference Object
• Language: English

Description

A study was carried out to investigate the effects of two housing systems on the performance, carcass traits and meat quality of growing rabbits. Ninety-six rabbits were used from 59 to 87 days of age. Forty eight rabbits were housed in 12 wired cages (0.5×0.6 m; 4 rabbits/cage) and 48 rabbits were housed in one open-air pasture pen (20×9 m). The growth performances were measured during the growing period. At 87 d, 12 rabbits per treatment were slaughtered and carcass characteristics determined according to the WRSA norms. Rabbits reared in cages showed higher (P<0.05) weight gain (45.9 vs. 34.2 g/d), pellet intake (163.4 vs. 110.2 g/d) and live weight (3062 vs. 2705 g) than those reared in open-air pens. At slaughter the open-air rabbits had higher (P<0.05) proportion of hind part (34.9 vs. 33.1%) but the dressing out percentage was similar (about 60%). The open-air rabbits had lower (P<0.05) percentage of dissectible fat in reference carcass (1.66 vs. 5.29%) and proportion of muscle in hind leg (79.3 vs 81.9%) and their femur had higher diameter. The housing system had no effect on dressing out percentage, viscera proportion and meat pHu.