Response of fattening rabbits reared under different housing conditions. 2. Carcass and meat quality

This 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to study the effects of housing system (pair caged – cage – : 2 rabbits/0.122 m2 vs open top pen housed – pen – : 13 rabbits/0.86 m2; same stocking density), floor type (wire mesh vs plastic net), and environmental enrichment (with vs without gnawing stick) on the meat quality of Pannon White growing rabbits (n = 64). The housing system significantly influenced slaughter weight (2590 vs 2531 g in cage or pen, respectively; P < 0.01), reference carcass (RC) weight (1266 vs 1234 g; in cage or pen, respectively; P < 0.05), and the hind leg meat to bone ratio (6.11 vs 5.62 in cage or pen, respectively, P < 0.001). The animals reared in pens showed paler meat with lower pHu than that of those reared paired in cages. Hind leg meat dry matter and protein content were also influenced by the housing system (26.3 vs 25.9%, 21.9 vs 21.6%; in cage or pen, respectively; P < 0.05). Pen housed rabbits had significantly heavier femur and tibia bone weight and higher fracture toughness than pair caged rabbits. Floor type affected the fore part/RC weight ratio (29.2 vs 29.6% of the RC on plastic net or wire mesh, respectively). Gnawing stick presence increased slaughter yield (59.0 vs 58.3%; P < 0.05), RC weight (1266 vs 1236 g; P < 0.05) and the forepart/RC ratio (29.6 vs 29.2% RC; P < 0.05) while significantly reducing the meat colour b⁎ value and increasing m. Longissimus dorsi shear force (0.60 vs 0.50 kg/cm2; P < 0.01). The hind leg meat fatty acid profile was only slightly influenced by experimental factors. Although this study showed pair caged rabbits to have increased carcass weight with better meatiness and other meat quality traits, hind leg bone strength was shown to be higher in pen housed rabbits.