The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of different stocking densities on some meat quality traits of slow growing rabbits reared outdoor. At 49 days old sixty rabbits were transferred in cages outdoor and randomly assigned to three different housing conditions: 0.063 mq/rabbit, 0.188 mq/rabbit and 0.375 mq/rabbit. A sample of twelve animals per group was slaughtered at 101 days old and pH, meat colour and cooking loss of B. femoris and L. lumborum were evaluated. The data were analyzed by ANOVA, considering the stocking density as categorical variable. Stocking density affected some meat quality characteristics: B. femoris of animals reared with 0.188 and 0.375 mq/rabbit density showed a lower lightness than the other group (51.35 and 52.33 vs 55.01; P<0.01) and L. lumborum of rabbits reared with the lower density (0.375 mq/rabbit) showed higher a* value than the 0.063 mq/rabbit (2.90 vs 1.60; P<0.05). It is possible that the higher disposable space induced greater physical activity, increasing muscle oxidative metabolism and consequently inducing more coloured meat. Outdoor rearing of rabbits at low density seems to be able to satisfy ethical concern of modern consumer, because assures the physiological requirements of rabbits and produces good meat quality.

Effect of stocking density on meat quality of slow growing rabbits reared outdoor

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

Abstract

The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of different stocking densities on some meat quality traits of slow growing rabbits reared outdoor. At 49 days old sixty rabbits were transferred in cages outdoor and randomly assigned to three different housing conditions: 0.063 mq/rabbit, 0.188 mq/rabbit and 0.375 mq/rabbit. A sample of twelve animals per group was slaughtered at 101 days old and pH, meat colour and cooking loss of B. femoris and L. lumborum were evaluated. The data were analyzed by ANOVA, considering the stocking density as categorical variable. Stocking density affected some meat quality characteristics: B. femoris of animals reared with 0.188 and 0.375 mq/rabbit density showed a lower lightness than the other group (51.35 and 52.33 vs 55.01; P<0.01) and L. lumborum of rabbits reared with the lower density (0.375 mq/rabbit) showed higher a* value than the 0.063 mq/rabbit (2.90 vs 1.60; P<0.05). It is possible that the higher disposable space induced greater physical activity, increasing muscle oxidative metabolism and consequently inducing more coloured meat. Outdoor rearing of rabbits at low density seems to be able to satisfy ethical concern of modern consumer, because assures the physiological requirements of rabbits and produces good meat quality.
2009
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Utilizza questo identificativo per citare o creare un link a questo documento: https://hdl.handle.net/11568/196355
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