Effect of energy feeds and breeds on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of rabbits

Abstract

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of energy feeds and breeds on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of rabbits. Thirty-six weaned male rabbits were used at 30 days of age from three breeds (New Zealand White, Califonia, and Chinchilla) each breed comprised 12 rabbits. The dietary feed composition consisted of three cereal grains: maize, wheat, and sorghum at an inclusion level of 50% each, and water given on an ad libitum basis. There-after, nine rabbits from each dietary treatment, equivalent to three rabbits per experiment unit were slaughtered and the carcass characteristics and meat quality were evaluated. The differences in slaughter weight, carcass weight, and dressing percentage from the rabbit breeds fed energy feeds were found insignificant (P>0.05). However, the meat significantly (P<0.05) differed in terms of chemical composition. The loin muscle had a higher crude protein and lower fat value. Higher protein 24.91% for Chinchilla-fed diets 2, and 24.41% California-fed diet 1 as well as low ether extract 1.07% for Califonia fed-diet 1 followed by 1.11% and 1.12% Califonia fed diets 2 and Chinchilla-fed diets 1 while the neck muscle had higher dry matter and higher ether extract. A 28.51 % of dry matter for New Zealand white-fed diet 2 followed by 26.36% Chinchilla-fed diets 2 and higher ether extract 8.79%, 8.65 %, and 8.04% from those rabbits fed diet 3. Also had a significant effect (P<0.05) on meat tenderness higher in loin muscle was 6.45 N. Results suggest that the inclusion of 50% of each maize and wheat grain in rabbit diets enhanced meat protein and reduction fat values, especially in the loin and thigh muscle than sorghum grain.