Carcass characteristics of rabbits raised in the semi-arid region of Nigeria

Abstract

Aims: This study was carried out to investigate the carcass characteristics of male and female rabbits raised in the semi-arid condition.

Methods and Results: Twenty-four (24) rabbits, comprising of 12 bucks and 12 does, were used for this study. At 12 weeks of age, the rabbits were weighed and slaughtered. Parameters measured include; pre-slaughter weight (kg), hot carcass weight (g), four primal cut weights (shoulder, ribs, loin and rump), internal organs weight (liver, lungs, kidneys, hearts, stomach and intestines). Sex had non-significant effects on the pre-slaughter, hot carcass and the four primal cuts weights (shoulder, ribs, loin and rump).

Conclusion: Conclusively, sexual dimorphism existed in the weights of the internal organs such as; liver, lungs, kidneys and intestines where female rabbits had higher weights. However, the pre-slaughter, hot carcass, shoulder, rib, loin and rump weights were not significantly affected by sex, implying that any of the sex could be safely utilize for meat production. Pre-slaughter weight was positively correlated with the weights of hot carcass, shoulder, rib, loin and rump while negatively correlated with liver, stomach and intestine.

Significance and Impact of Study: Pre-slaughter weight could be use as selection criterion for improvement of carcass quality in rabbits.

Keywords

• Carcass
• rabbit
• sex

Kaynakça

1. Abaje IB, Sawa BA, Ati OF (2014) Climate Variability and Change, Impacts and Adaptation Strategies in Dutsin-Ma Local Government Area of Katsina State, Nigeria. Journal of Geography and Geology. 6 (2): p. 103-112.
2. Adelodun OF (2015) Sexual Dimorphism in the Carcass Traits of Rabbits in Humid Tropics. International Journal of Livestock Research. 5(5): p. 30-37.
3. Akıncı Z, Poyraz Ö, Akçapınar H, Evogliyan N (1998) The effects of genotype, sex and age on some slaughter traits and carcass characteristics of New Zealand White and California Rabbits. Journal of Lalahan Livest. Res. Inst. 38: p. 84-102.
4. Blasco A, Ouhayoun J, Masoero G (1993) Harmonization of criteria and terminology in rabbit meat research. World Rabbit science. 1(1): p. 3-10.
5. Baiomy AA, Hassanien HHM (2011) Effect of breed and sex on carcass characteristics and meat chemical composition of New Zealand white and Californian rabbits under upper Egyptian environment. Egyptian Poultry Science. 31 (2): p. 275-284.
6. Cavani C, Bianchi M, Lazzaroni C, Luzi F, Minelli G, Petracci M (2000) Influence of type of rearing, slaughter age and sex on fattening rabbit: II. Meat quality. In: Proceeding of the 7th World Rabbit Congress, Spain, Vol A: p. 567-572.
7. Dalle Zotte A (2000) Main factors influencing the rabbit carcass and meat quality. Proc. of the 7th World Rabbit Congress, Valencia, Spain, 1-32.
8. Dalle Zotte A (2002) Perception of rabbit meat quality and major factors influencing the rabbit carcass and meat quality. Livestock Production Science. 75: p. 11-32.

9. Farghaly HM, El-Mahdy MRM (1999) Genetic and non-genetic factors affecting live, carcass and non-carcass traits of New Zealand White rabbits in Egypt. Indian Journal of Animal Science. 69(8): p. 596-603.
10. Fayeye TR, Ayorinde KL (2008) Effects of weaning litter size and sex on post weaning bodyweight, mortality and carcass characteristics of domestic rabbit in the humid tropics. In: Proceeding of 9th World Rabbit Congress – June 10-13, 2008 – Verona – Italy. P. 1535-1538
11. Fernandez C, Fraga MJ (1996) The effect of dietary fat inclusion on growth, carcass characteristics, and chemical composition of rabbits. Journal of Animal Science. 74: p. 2088 - 2094.
12. Ghosh N, Mandal L (2008) Carcass and meat quality traits of rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) under warm-humid condition of West Bengal, India. Livestock Research for Rural Development. 20 (9).
13. Murshed HM, Shishir SR, Rahman SME, Deog-Hwan OH (2014) Comparison of carcass and meat characteristics between male and female indigenous rabbit of Bangladesh. Bangladesh Journal of Animal. Science. 43 (2): p. 154-158.
14. Newton R, Penman S (1990) A Manual for Small-Scale Rabbit Production. Oxford and IBH Publishing Co Pvt Ltd, Calcutta.
15. Piles M, Blasco A, Pla M (2000) The effect of selection for growth rate on carcass composition and meat characteristic of rabbits. Meat Science. 54: p. 347-355.
16. SPSS (2011) Statistical Package for the Social Sciences. User’s Guide: Statistics, Version 15.0. Institute, Inc., Cary, NC, USA.
17. Szendro Z, Romvári R, Nagy I, Andrassy-Baka G, Metzger S, Radnai I, Biro-Nemeth E, Szabo A, Vigh Z, Horn P (2004) Selection of Pannon White rabbits based on computerised tomography. In Proc: 8th World Rabbit Congress, September 7-10, 2004 Puebla, Mexico. P. 175-180.
18. Trocino A, Xiccato G, Queaque PI, Sartori A (2002) Effect of transport duration and sex on carcass and meat quality of growing rabbits. In: Proceeding of 2nd Rabbit Congress of the America, Cuba. p. 232-235.
19. Yalçin S, Onbasilar EE, Onbasilar I (2006) Effect of sex on carcass and meat characteristics of New Zealand White rabbits aged 11 weeks. Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences. 19: p. 1212– 1216.