Recently some recommendations were produced from EFSA (European Food and Safety Authority) to respect the health and welfare of rabbit reared for meat production; among these recommendations, the colony rearing is considered one of the most suitable rabbit condition to express the behavioural typical pattern and one of the system in order to increase comfort. The objective of this study was to evaluate, in outdoor colony rearing system, the effect of group size on meat quality of a slow growing local rabbit population. The rabbits were weaned at 35 days and housed with conventional system. At 56±3 days old, 84 rabbits were selected and divided into three groups at random. The groups were transferred outdoor in a wooded area and housed in wire net floor colony cages. Each colony cages measured 100x150x76h cm. Three different groups size (three replications) were studied: 4 animals/ cage (T4), 8 animals/cage (T8), 16 animals/cage (T16) with a stocking density of 5 animals/m2. The rabbits were fed a complete feed and alfa-alfa hay ad libitum. At 103±3 days, 12 animals for each group were slaughtered according to WRSA Commission. After 24 hours the loin region and the right hind leg were excised from each carcass and analyzed for assessment meat quality. The pHu was de- termined in situ on the right Longissimus lumborum muscle at the level of the 5th lumbar vertebra and on the Biceps femoris muscle. Instrumental meat colour expressed as L* (Lightness), a* (redness), b* (yellowness) according to CIELab system was measured with a Minolta CR300 apparatus with a light source D65 on a transversal section of Longissimus lumborum muscle and on the Biceps femoris muscle surface. Water holding capacity was measured on 6 samples of Longissimus lumborum muscle for each group, as cooking loss after cooking in a ventilated oven and in water-bath. The meat quality parameters were analyzed by ANOVA. In T16 group the meat from Longissimus lumborum and Bi- ceps femoris showed significantly higher pHu values than in T8 and T4 groups (5.76 vs. 5.58 and 5.56; 5.85 vs. 5.69 and 5.70, respectively; P<0.01): it might be possible that, as a consequence of a greater locomotory activity during rearing period and during capture for the slaughtering, muscular glycogen decreased and meat acidification was modified. Moreover the lower pHu of T4 and T8 groups could be related to more favourable welfare rearing conditions that reduced the stress. For Longissimus lumborum colour traits and water holding capacity were not significantly affected by group size; for Biceps femoris T16 group showed greater L* values than T8 and T4 groups (55.16 vs. 52.49 and 53.75; P<0.01). In conclusion, considering that the T4 group obtained good performances in a shorter reared period and showed the lack of aggressiveness than the others groups, as reported in previous paper, it is possible to recommend for outdoor rabbit production the lower group size to assure the animal welfare and the good quality of products. Moreover, it is necessary to underline that the higher value of pHu observed in the meat derived from T16 group could modify the product quality during storage and for this reason T4 and T8 group size are more advisable.

Meat quality of outdoor reared rabbits: effect of group size

RUSSO, CLAUDIA;PREZIUSO, GIOVANNA
2009-01-01

Abstract

Recently some recommendations were produced from EFSA (European Food and Safety Authority) to respect the health and welfare of rabbit reared for meat production; among these recommendations, the colony rearing is considered one of the most suitable rabbit condition to express the behavioural typical pattern and one of the system in order to increase comfort. The objective of this study was to evaluate, in outdoor colony rearing system, the effect of group size on meat quality of a slow growing local rabbit population. The rabbits were weaned at 35 days and housed with conventional system. At 56±3 days old, 84 rabbits were selected and divided into three groups at random. The groups were transferred outdoor in a wooded area and housed in wire net floor colony cages. Each colony cages measured 100x150x76h cm. Three different groups size (three replications) were studied: 4 animals/ cage (T4), 8 animals/cage (T8), 16 animals/cage (T16) with a stocking density of 5 animals/m2. The rabbits were fed a complete feed and alfa-alfa hay ad libitum. At 103±3 days, 12 animals for each group were slaughtered according to WRSA Commission. After 24 hours the loin region and the right hind leg were excised from each carcass and analyzed for assessment meat quality. The pHu was de- termined in situ on the right Longissimus lumborum muscle at the level of the 5th lumbar vertebra and on the Biceps femoris muscle. Instrumental meat colour expressed as L* (Lightness), a* (redness), b* (yellowness) according to CIELab system was measured with a Minolta CR300 apparatus with a light source D65 on a transversal section of Longissimus lumborum muscle and on the Biceps femoris muscle surface. Water holding capacity was measured on 6 samples of Longissimus lumborum muscle for each group, as cooking loss after cooking in a ventilated oven and in water-bath. The meat quality parameters were analyzed by ANOVA. In T16 group the meat from Longissimus lumborum and Bi- ceps femoris showed significantly higher pHu values than in T8 and T4 groups (5.76 vs. 5.58 and 5.56; 5.85 vs. 5.69 and 5.70, respectively; P<0.01): it might be possible that, as a consequence of a greater locomotory activity during rearing period and during capture for the slaughtering, muscular glycogen decreased and meat acidification was modified. Moreover the lower pHu of T4 and T8 groups could be related to more favourable welfare rearing conditions that reduced the stress. For Longissimus lumborum colour traits and water holding capacity were not significantly affected by group size; for Biceps femoris T16 group showed greater L* values than T8 and T4 groups (55.16 vs. 52.49 and 53.75; P<0.01). In conclusion, considering that the T4 group obtained good performances in a shorter reared period and showed the lack of aggressiveness than the others groups, as reported in previous paper, it is possible to recommend for outdoor rabbit production the lower group size to assure the animal welfare and the good quality of products. Moreover, it is necessary to underline that the higher value of pHu observed in the meat derived from T16 group could modify the product quality during storage and for this reason T4 and T8 group size are more advisable.
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/196236
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