Performance, carcass yield and quality of meat in broiler rabbits: A comparison of six genotypes

The performance, feed conversion, slaughter parameters and composition of m eat were investigated in 48 rabbits between the ages of 30 and 80 days. Six genotypes were compared: New Zealand While (NZW), Californian White (CW), New Zealand White x Californian White (N x C), Hyla 2000 (Hy), Zika (Zi), C unistar (Cu). The NZW rabbits had the lowest weight gain (25.4 g/day) and t he highest consumption of feed per 1 kg of gain (4.56 kg). Significantly hi gher (P < 0.05) daily weight gains were observed in the N x C, Zi and Cu ra bbits (34.5, 33.0 and 33.0 g, respectively). The best feed conversion was f ound in the CW rabbits (2.98 kg/kg). The dressing percentage in the NZW rab bits (66.1) was significantly better than in other genotypes (59.6-62.8). I n all breeds, the musculus longissimus dorsi contained more protein and les s fat, cholesterol and hydroxyproline than muscles of the hindleg. Carcass of the CW rabbits had the lowest fat and cholesterol contents. The highest fat content in m. longissimus dorsi and hindleg muscles was found in the Zi (16.2 g/kg) and NZW (41.4 g/kg) rabbits, respectively. In other quality pa rameters, differences between the genotypes were not statistically signific ant.