Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of growing rabbits housed in cages or open-air park

摘要

The study was carried out to investigate the effects of two housing systems on the growthperformance, carcass traits, and meat quality of growing rabbits during the terminalfattening period. The rabbits were lodged in conventional cages between 35 and 59 daysof age (growing period). At this age, they were moved into two different housing systemsuntil they were 87 days of age (fattening period). During the fattening period, 48 rabbitswere housed in 12 wire cages (0.5×0.6×0.35 m) and 48 rabbits were housed in one open-airpasture pen (20×9 m). At 87 days, 12 rabbits per treatment were slaughtered and the carcasscharacteristics and meat quality were evaluated. During the fattening period, the rabbitsreared in cages had significantly higher live weights (3 062 vs. 2 705 g), weight gains (45.9 vs.34.2 g·d) and feed intakes (163.4 vs. 110.2 g·d) than those reared in pens. The rabbits in theopen-air group had a lower percentage of dissectible fat (1.35 vs. 4.19 %), a higher proportionof hind part (34.9 vs. 33.1 %), and less hind leg muscle (79.3 vs. 81.9 %) than caged rabbits.The of the rabbits in the open-air group had a higher cooking loss (3.64vs. 3.02 %), Warner-Bratzler Shear Force (4.26 vs. 3.29 kg·cm), and myoglobin concentration(0.41 vs. 0.32 mg·g) than caged rabbits. The housing system had no effect on the dressingout percentage, viscera proportion, and ultimate pH. Open-air housing system reduces thegrowth of rabbits and the fat content of carcasses and increases the redness colour of meat.