Effect of pre- and post-weaning dietary supplementation with Digestarom® herbal formulation on rabbit carcass traits and meat quality

This study evaluated effects of Digestarom® (D) dietary inclusion before weaning (0–5 weeks old; BW) and/or after weaning (5–12 weeks old; AW) on growing rabbit carcass traits and meat quality. During BW, Pannon-Ka rabbits (does, kits) received two diets: a control diet (C) and one supplemented with 300 mg Digestarom®/kg (D). At weaning, each group was divided into 3 dietary sub-groups: CC and DD received C and D diets from 5 to 12 weeks of age, whereas DC was fed D from 5 to 8 weeks and C from 8 to 12 weeks of age (54 rabbits/group; AW). Rabbits were slaughtered at 12 weeks of age. Digestarom® supplementation improved carcass yield and body mid part proportion only when administered BW. Rabbits fed D BW had higher hind leg meat cooking losses. Loin meat spiciness and rancidity increased with D both BW and AW. In conclusion, Digestarom® herbal formulation was ineffective in improving growing rabbit carcass traits or meat quality.