Using Post-Mortem Measurements to Predict Carcass Tissue Composition in Growing Rabbits

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  • Andrea Y. Croda-Andrade
  • Cristell G. Valencia-García
  • Tomas A. Arbez-Abnal
  • Rodrigo Portillo-Salgado
  • Raciel J. Estrada-León
  • Ignacio Vázquez-Martínez
  • Enrique Camacho-Pérez
  • Vargas Bello Perez, Einar
  • Alfonso J. Chay-Canul

The objective of this study was to determine post-mortem measurements for predicting carcass traits in growing rabbits. A total of 50 clinically healthy New Zealand White × Californian male rabbits with a body weight (BW) of 1351 ± 347 g between 60 to 80 days of age were used. Body weight was recorded 12 h before slaughtering. Data recorded at slaughtering included carcass weights (HCW). After cooling at 4 C for 24 h, carcasses were weighed (CCW) and then were carefully split longitudinally with a band saw to obtain left and right halves. In the right half carcass, the following measurements were recorded using a tape measure: dorsal length (DL), thoracic depth (TD), thigh length (TL), carcass length (CL), lumbar circumference (LC). The compactness index (CCI) was calculated as the CCW divided by the CL. Thereafter, the right half carcass was weighed and manually deboned to record weights of muscle (TCM), and bone (TCB). The CCI explained of 93% of variation for TCM (R2 = 0.93 and a CV = 9.30%). In addition, the DL was the best predictor (p < 0.001) for TCB (R2 = 0.60 and a CV = 18.9%). Our results indicated that the use of carcass measurements could accurately and precisely (R2 = ≥ 0.60 and ≤0.95) be used as alternatives to predict the carcass tissues composition in growing rabbits.

Original languageEnglish
Article number605
JournalAnimals
Volume12
Issue number5
ISSN2076-2615
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2022

Bibliographical note

Publisher Copyright:
© 2022 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland.

    Research areas

  • Body muscle, Carcass, Growing rabbits, Prediction

ID: 299495879