Journal Article•
Effect of weaning age upon the slaughter and physicochemical traits of rabbit meat.
20 Jul 2011-Veterinarski Arhiv (Veterinarski fakultet Sveučilišta u Zagrebu)-Vol. 81, Iss: 4, pp 499-511
TL;DR: It was established that the early weaning of rabbits resulted in a statistically signifi cantly lower body mass, dressed carcass weight and dressing percentage as compared to normally weaned animals.
Abstract: The effect of the weaning age of rabbits on slaughter traits and physicochemical properties of meat was investigated. Sixteen New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) were used, divided in two groups: group А (n = 8) weaned at the age of 21 days (early weaned) and group В (n = 8) weaned at the age of 35 days (normally weaned). The animals were fed with two categories of pelleted feed: for weaned rabbits up to 50 days of age and for growing rabbits older than 50 days of age. It was established that the early weaning of rabbits resulted in a statistically signifi cantly lower body mass, dressed carcass weight and dressing percentage as compared to normally weaned animals. Also, the pH of meat by the 24th hour after slaughtering and the dry matter of m. longissimus lumborum (LL) were signifi cantly lower in group A. Simultaneously, a statistically signifi cantly higher water-holding capacity, water content and lightness were established in the meat of early weaned compared to normally weaned rabbits. The protein and fat contents of LL and m. semimembranosus (SМ) in rabbits from group A correlated negatively and signifi cantly with water content, and positively with the dry matter. In group B, water content also correlated signifi cantly and negatively with protein content. Fat and ash in SM meat was in a positive statistically signifi cant relationship for both experimental groups. The results from the present study showed that the weaning age infl uenced both the slaughter traits and physicochemical properties of rabbit meat.
Citations
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TL;DR: It could be concluded that one week of intensive feed restriction in early weaned rabbits affects some morphological muscle fibre characteristics but has no effect on performance, carcase traits and meat quality.
Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of one week of intensive feed restriction (50 g and 65 g per rabbit per day for R50 and R65, respectively) on carcase traits, meat quality c...
14 citations
Cites background from "Effect of weaning age upon the slau..."
...…studies found that early weaning reduced growth compared with classically (on day 35) weaned rabbits (Cesari et al. 2007; Gallois et al. 2008; Kov acs et al. 2012), and the early weaned rabbits had a lower live weight at the end of the experiment (Gallois et al. 2008; Bivolarski et al. 2011)....
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TL;DR: It is concluded that the addition of lactic acid bacteria in Hybrid pennisetum silage had a constructive influence on rabbit health performance and meat biochemistry.
Abstract: The study investigated the potential effect of the microbial fermented feed utilization on physicochemical traits, antioxidant enzyme and trace mineral analysis in rabbit meat. A total of 72 six-week-old male rabbits were weighed and randomly divided into four groups (1) (SRKC) control; (2) (SRKP) Lactobacillus plantarum 1 × 106 cfu/g fresh weight (FW); (3) (SRKG) Pediococcus acidilactici 1 × 106 cfu/g FW and (4) (SRKPG) P. acidilactici + L. plantarum 1 × 106 cfu/g FW. Performance characteristic, weekly body weight, was positively (p .05) reduced in treated group as compared to untreated. It is concluded that the addition of lactic acid bacteria (L. plantarum and P. acidilactici) in Hybrid pennisetum silage had a constructive influence on rabbit health performance and meat biochemistry.
10 citations
TL;DR: The optimal weaning age for average commercial rabbit lines is determined by studying one of these lines, the V-line, and it is found that moderate weaning (28W) will be suitable for the farm economy and will improve rabbit production better than early or late weaning.
Abstract: Weaning age for mammals remains a topic of debate and an interesting subject of research. The literature data reflect opposite views on the recommended weaning age of rabbits. Thus, we determined the optimal weaning age for average commercial rabbit lines by studying one of these lines, the V-line. Gene expression of weaning age was studied in this research to reach the optimal weaning age for efficient rabbit growth and survival. The effect of weaning age on growth and mortality rates was investigated in young rabbits by comparing 3 groups (kits of 10 V-line does for each group), weaned at 23 (W23), 28 (W28) and 33 (W33) days of age. Rabbits weaned at 23 d of age had significantly (P<0.05) lower body weight at the age of 63 d (market age) than those weaned at 28 and 33 d of age. The weaning age also influenced survival; mortality rate was highest in rabbits weaned at 23 d of age, followed by those weaned at 28 and 33 d of age. Morphometric parameters reflect the integral effect of all factors influencing digestive tract growth and development. From the results, it seems that the small intestine length did not have a clear effect on different weaning ages. Quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction analysis is an important tool to monitor changes in gene expression in animals such as rabbits. We used this approach to measure intestinal insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) mRNA level and observed that the expression levels of IGF-1Ea, IGF-1Eb and IGF-1R were nearly the same in W28 and W33 rabbits, while they were the lowest in W23 rabbits. Serum IGF-1 concentrations tended to present significant differences (P<0.05) with different weaning ages. We found that levels of IGF-1 in rabbits weaned at 28 and 33 d of age were convergent and higher than the IGF-1 levels in rabbits weaned at 23 d of age. Moreover, the early weaning of rabbits has a negative impact on growth. This therefore suggests that moderate weaning (28W) will be suitable for the farm economy and will improve rabbit production better than early or late weaning.
9 citations
References
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05 Nov 1994
TL;DR: In this paper, conversion of muscle into meat is discussed, as well as conversion of Muscle into Meat, conversion of Meat into Food, and conversion of Food into Meat Extracts.
Abstract: Introduction. Conversion of Muscle into Meat. Uncooked Comminuted and Reformed Meat Products. Cured Meats. Cooked Meat and Cooked Meat Products. Cooked Cured Meats. Fermented Sausages. Frozen Meat and Meat Products. Dried Meats, Intermediated Moisture Meats and Meat Extracts. Further Reading. Index.
345 citations
Book•
31 Dec 1995
TL;DR: In this paper, the authors introduce Liquid Milk and Liquid Milk Products, Concentrated and Dried Milk Products and Fermented Milks, and Cream and Cream-Based Products, including Butter, Margarine and Spreads.
Abstract: Introduction. Liquid Milk and Liquid Milk Products. Concentrated and Dried Milk Products. Dairy Protein Products. Cream and Cream-Based Products. Butter, Margarine and Spreads. Cheese. Fermented Milks. Ice Cream and Related Products. Bibliography. Index.
135 citations
TL;DR: The digestive maturation of the young rabbit is reviewed and it indicates that their nutritional needs and those of lactating females are antagonistic in many aspects, whilst a low starch, high fibre diet around weaning improves the health of theYoung rabbit after weaning.
Abstract: The digestive maturation of the young rabbit is reviewed. It indicates that their nutritional needs and those of lactating females are antagonistic in many aspects. Energy requirements of lactating females are very high, whilst a low starch, high fibre diet around weaning improves the health of the young after weaning. To solve this problem, several feeding and management strategies are presented and discussed. If weaning occurs between 28 and 35 days of age, feeding the young with a specific diet, different from the female’s, seems an effective solution. Otherwise, it is necessary to find a compromise between the needs of the litter and of the doe. Early weaning (< 26 days) could be also a promising way to provide adequate feeding for the young as soon as they begin to eat solid food.
96 citations
"Effect of weaning age upon the slau..." refers background in this paper
...Some authors believe that the digestive enzymes of rabbits weaned between the 30th and 35th day of age are not fully developed (GIDENNE and FORTUN-LAMOTHE, 2002) and some nutrients pass undigested through the intestine into the caecum, which the microfl ora has recently colonized after the age of 14 days....
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TL;DR: The discriminant analysis revealed relationships between ages, intestinal microflora and fermentation parameter; the colibacilli flora was associated with mother-fed animals and amylolytic flora which was linked to BCFA and valeric acid, while the cellulolyticFlora wasassociated with animals older than 4 weeks and linked to the production of C2, C3, C4 and ammonia.
Abstract: Some microbiological and biochemical parameters of caecal content were studied in 15- to 49-d-old rabbits that were slaughtered sequentially. The ammonia level did not differ before weaning (11.5 mmol/L on average) (P = 0.41) or after weaning (7.4 mmol/L on average) (P = 0.19) but decreased by 40% (P < 0.001) between days 29 and 32. The level of pH decreased linearly (P < 0.001) throughout the period studied. The Escherichia coli counts decreased up to weaning (P < 0.001) and was then not significantly affected by age (P = 0.12). The total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration increased between days 15 (8.2 mmol/L) and 25 (33.9 mmol/L) (P < 0.05) and then levelled off below 40 mmol/L. Molar proportions in propionate and in branched-chain fatty acid (BCFA) and valeric acid were high at day 15 but decreased when the animals began to eat solid feed. The C3/C4 ratio reversed at weaning (3.8 on day 15 and 0.5 on day 49) whereas the acetic acid proportion was not affected by age (P = 0.19). High counts of anaerobic microflora were found between 15 and 22 d of age (10(11) bacteria/g of caecal content, on average) and did not change significantly according to the age (at about 10(10) bacteria/g), from day 29 until the end of the experiment (P = 0.29). Amylolytic flora had a similar evolution at a slightly lower level. In contrast, under our breeding conditions cellulolytic microflora slowly colonized the caecum and remained at a low level. The discriminant analysis revealed relationships between ages, intestinal microflora and fermentation parameter; the colibacilli flora was associated with mother-fed animals and amylolytic flora which was linked to BCFA and valeric acid, while the cellulolytic flora was associated with animals older than 4 weeks and linked to the production of C2, C3, C4 and ammonia.
83 citations