Author(s):
Pinheiro, Victor 
; Outor-Monteiro, Divanildo ; Silva, Severiano ; Silva, José ; Mourão, José Luís
Date: 2011
Persistent ID: http://hdl.handle.net/10348/2935
Origin: Repositório da UTAD
Subject(s): rabbit; growth; carcass; meat; housing system
Description
The study was carried out to investigate the effects of two housing systems on the growth
performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of growing rabbits during the terminal
fattening period. The rabbits were lodged in conventional cages between 35 and 59 days
of age (growing period). At this age, they were moved into two different housing systems
until they were 87 days of age (fattening period). During the fattening period, 48 rabbits
were housed in 12 wire cages (0.5×0.6×0.35 m) and 48 rabbits were housed in one open-air
pasture pen (20×9 m). At 87 days, 12 rabbits per treatment were slaughtered and the carcass
characteristics and meat quality were evaluated. During the fattening period, the rabbits
reared in cages had significantly higher live weights (3 062 vs. 2 705 g), weight gains (45.9 vs.
34.2 g·d -1 ) and feed intakes (163.4 vs. 110.2 g·d -1 ) than those reared in pens. The rabbits in the
open-air group had a lower percentage of dissectible fat (1.35 vs. 4.19 %), a higher proportion
of hind part (34.9 vs. 33.1 %), and less hind leg muscle (79.3 vs. 81.9 %) than caged rabbits.
The m. biceps femoris of the rabbits in the open-air group had a higher cooking loss (3.64
vs. 3.02 %), Warner-Bratzler Shear Force (4.26 vs. 3.29 kg·cm -2 ), and myoglobin concentration
(0.41 vs. 0.32 mg·g -1 ) than caged rabbits. The housing system had no effect on the dressing
out percentage, viscera proportion, and ultimate pH. Open-air housing system reduces the
growth of rabbits and the fat content of carcasses and increases the redness colour of meat.
