129 research outputs found
Effect of dietary supplementation of Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) and Thyme (Thymus vulgaris L.) on productive performance and carcass traits of growing rabbits
No full textThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation and the length of the supplementation
(between the ages of 5-11 or 8-11 weeks) of the growing rabbits’ diet by Spirulina or/and Thyme on the growing
rabbits’ production. The experiment was conducted at the experimental rabbit farm of the Kaposvár University
using maternal line rabbits (n=294). At weaning the rabbits were randomly sorted to 7 groups (42 rabbits/group).
Rabbits of the control group (C) received a pellet throughout the experiment (5-11 weeks of age) without any
supplementation. In the other groups the pellet was completed by 5% Spirulina (S), or 3% Thyme (T) or by both
(ST) for the whole (5-11 wk; groups: S-S, T-T, ST-ST), or for end of the growing period (8-11 wk; groups: C-S,
C-T, C-ST). Supplementing the diet by Spirulina or/and Thyme had no effect on the rabbits’ weight gain, body
weight, feed consumption, morbidity and mortality. Significant differences were only found for feed conversion
ratio (8-11, 5-11 weeks) of the C-T and C-C groups to the advantage of the C-T rabbits (P<0.05). The carcass
traits of different groups did not differ significantly. Based on the results the feed supplements applied separately
or jointly had no substantial effect on the growing rabbits’ production and health status
Rabbit's preference for cages and pens with or without mirrors
No full textFive week-old Pannon White rabbits were housed in a closed climatized rabbitry and randomly
assigned to pens (56 rabbits) having a basic area of 1 m2 with a stocking density of 16 and 12
rabbits/m2 or to 18 individual cages (0.24 m2; 1 rabbit/cage; stocking density of 4 rabbits/m2). The
pens and the cages were divided into 2 parts and animals could move freely among the 2 parts through
swing doors. The vertical sides of one part of the pens and cages were completely covered with
mirrors while the other part was covered with white plastic panels. A 24 hour video recording was
performed twice a week using infrared cameras and the number of rabbits in each pen and cage was
counted with a frequency of 15 minutes (96 times a day). The duration of the trial was 6 weeks. The
lighting period was 16L/8D. Rabbits were fed ad libitum a standard diet and water was available ad
libitum from nipple drinkers. Throughout the entire rearing period 67% of the individually caged
rabbits showed a preference for the part of the cage enriched with mirrors (P<0.001). This preference
slightly decreased with increasing age. The strong preference toward the part of the cage provided
with mirror walls was independent of the time of day. That is, during the active period (11:00 pm –
05:00 am), which corresponds to the dark part of the day, rabbits still preferred the mirror-side even
though they were not able to see their own reflected image at that time. Neither rearing rabbits in
groups under different stocking densities (12 vs. 16 rabbits/m2) nor the presence of conspecifics
reduced the interest toward mirrors. 65% of animals living at the stocking density of 16 rabbits/m2 and
61% of those living at the density of 12 rabbits/m2 were found on the side with mirrors (P<0.001)
during all the recordings. Group-penned rabbits showed a decisive preference toward mirrors during
the active period (71 to 74% for stocking densities of 12 and 16 rabbits/m2, respectively; P<0.001).
The results suggest that the mirrors’ presence offers some advantages, perhaps related to comfort and
welfare that could be used as environmental enrichments for fattening rabbits. However, the
installation costs should be taken into account before considering their use for long time individually
caged animals and for group-penned rabbits
EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION OF CHESTUNT HYDROLISABLE TANNIN ON DIGESTIVE EFFICIENCY, GROWTH PERFORMANCE AND MEAT QUALITY IN GROWING RABBITS
No full textThe aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of the dietary supplementation of chestnut hydrolysable tannin on the feed digestibility and nutritive value, mortality and growth performance, fatty acid profile and TBARS of cooked Longissimus dorsi (LD) meat. From the age of 18 days the rabbits were fed pellets supplemented with coccidiostat (CC) or with tannin (400 g/100 kg: T400). At weaning (35 d of age) within both groups 5 dietary sub-groups were formed: medicated-free (C0), containing coccidiostatic (CC), or supplemented with increasing levels of chestnut tannin (T200, T400 and T600). Rabbits fed the 5 diets ad libitum until slaughter at 11 weeks of age. The coefficient of total tract apparent digestibility (CTTAD) of nutrients was not affected by the tannin inclusion, substantially, with exception of CTTAD of hemicelluloses, that was lower in T400 and T600 compared to C0 and T200 (P<0.001), the CTTAD of Ca, lower in T400 vs C0 and CC (P<0.05) and CTTAD of DP-to-DE ratio, lowest in CC and T600 (P<0.001). Dietary tannin significantly modified the CTTAD of FA classes. At weaning, the live weight of CC rabbits was significantly higher than that of the T400 rabbits (974 vs 940 g, P<0.05). The other variables related to growth performance, health status and carcass traits were not affected by the tannin supplementation. The T400 diet fed before weaning seemed to be more effective than the 3 tannin levels administered during fattening period on FA profile change in the LD muscle. T400 diet fed before weaning increased SFA and MUFA (P<0.01) and decreased PUFA (P<0.05), decreasing the n-6/n-3 ratio (P<0.01), however. When tannin-supplemented diets were fed during fattening, only T600 diet showed significantly higher (P<0.05) SFA and MUFA contents compared to CC diet. In conclusion, the dietary inclusion of chestnut hydrolysable tannin doesn’t provides improvements in health status, diet nutritive value, growth performance and carcass traits. Dietary hydrolysable tannin supplementation may play a role on lipid metabolism
Effect of housing conditions on production, carcass and meat quality traits of growing rabbits
No full textProduction, carcass traits and meat quality of rabbits housed in cages or in different pens were compared.
Rabbits (n = 579) were sorted into 5 groups: C = cage (2 rabbits/cage); pen without platform: P11 = 9
rabbits/pen; P16 = 14 rabbits/pen; pen with platform: PW = wire net platform, 14 rabbits/pen; PD = platform
with straw-litter, 14 rabbits/pen. Feed intake and average daily gain between 5 and 11 weeks, and body
weight at 11 weeks were significantly higher in C rabbits than that of the mean of pen-housed groups,
while the PD group had the lowest growth performance. C rabbits had the smallest hind part to reference
carcass (P b 0.001) and the largest percentage of perirenal and scapular fat (P b 0.001). The meat/bone
ratio was the largest in group C (P b 0.05). Differences were recorded in a* value and lipid content of m.
Longissimus dorsi. Rabbits housed in cages generally had the best performance whereas those housed in
pens with platform exhibited the worst
The effect of the feed supplemented by different tannin levels on the production and carcass traits of growing rabbits
No full textThe objective of the experiment was to analyze the production and carcass traits of growing rabbits fed by
medicament free and by supplemented (with coccidiostaticum, or with 3 different tannin levels) pellet,
respectively. From the age of 18 days the rabbits were fed by medicament free pellet supplemented by
coccidiostaticum (Cc), or by tannin (400g/100kg: T400). At weaning (35 days of age) within both groups 5 subgroups
were formed: medicament free (CO), and supplemented pellet containing coccidiostaticum (Cc), or
different levels of tannin (Farmatan) (T200, T400 and T600). At weaning the body weight of the Cc rabbits was
significantly higher than that of the T400 rabbits (974 vs. 940g, P<0.05). Except for this finding the fed pellet
type did not influence the growing rabbits’ production (weight gain, body weight, feed consumption, feed
conversion ratio, mortality). The pellet type fed prior to weaning significantly affected the perirenal fat weight
(Cc = 28.9 and T400 = 26.3 g; P<0.05). The rabbits fed by tannin supplemented pellet after weaning had a higher
mid part ratio compared to the reference carcass (P = 0.1). As the mortality rate was low in all groups (CO, T200
and T600 = 5.9%, T400 = 1.4%, Cc = 0%, NS), it can be concluded that no positive effect can be expected when
the analyzed population is healthy and the housing conditions and the feed compositions are adequate
Use of different areas of pen by growing rabbits depending on the elevated platforms’ floor-type
No full textThe addition of platforms to rabbit cages increases their accessible area and provides rabbits greater freedom and mobility. Different types of platforms enable rabbits to situate themselves where they are most comfortable. The objective of this experiment was to analyse preference of growing rabbits between different areas of the pen depending on the elevated platforms’ floor-type. Pens with a basic area of 0.84 m2 were equipped with platforms of 0.42 m2. Three types of flooring of the elevated platforms were used as treatments: deep-litter floor and an open wire-net floor (Experiment 1), and a deep-litter floor and a wire-net floor with a manure tray beneath it (Experiment 2). Growing rabbits (n = 168; 42 per treatment) between the ages of 5 and 11 weeks were studied, based on 24 h video recordings from infra-red cameras (one recording per week) applying scan sampling method with a frequency of 30 min. When the platform was deep-litter, significantly (P < 0.001) more rabbits used the area under the platform (53.7% and 54.3% in Experiments 1 and 2, respectively) than stayed on the platform (16.7% and 7.6%). In treatments of wire-net platform with and without tray beneath the platform also significantly (P < 0.001) more rabbits stayed under the platform (43.7% and 34.7%, respectively) than on the platform (19.5% and 29.9%, respectively). The differences from the expected 33.3% staying on the platform or under the platform were significant at least at the level of P < 0.05. The results show that the wire-net platform with the manure tray provides the optimal environment as it leads to the rabbits spreading themselves more evenly in the pen (i.e. the platform expands available floor area) without the risk of soiling from above, and without adverse effects on heat dissipation, and with the possibility of seeking cover when desired
Comparison of productive and carcass traits of different genotypes
No full textdifferent adult weight. The maternal line is selected for litter size (M; n=31) (adult weight /AW/ 4.0-4.5
kg); the Pannon White (P; n=42; AW: 4.3-4.8 kg) and a large sized (paternal) line are selected for weight gain
and for carcass traits (using CT-data). The average daily gain (between the ages of 5 and 11 weeks) of the L
rabbits exceeded that of the P and M rabbits by 4.3 and 8.8 g, respectively (P<0.001). 272 and 491 g differences
were found for 11 week old body weight. The daily feed intake of the L rabbits was 17 and 23 g higher that that
of the P and L group (P<0.001). The feed conversion ratio and the mortality rate of the 3 genotypes did not
differ. The highest dressing out percentage (61.3%) was observed by the P rabbits exceeding by 1.1% the M
group (P<0.05). The dressing out percentage of the L groups was also favourable (61.1%). Compared to the
reference carcass the ratio of the fore part was the highest (26.9%) and the lowest (25.7%) for the L and P
groups, respectively. An opposite order was recorded for the ratio of the hind part (L: 37.2%, P: 38.2%). The
ratio of the perirenal fat was similar for every genotype. Based on the results it can be concluded that feed intake
and final weight are determined by the adult body weight (of the genotypes) (the large sized line showed the
most favourable performances), dressing out percentage and ratio of the fore and hind parts are determined by
the CT aided selection (P rabbits achieved the best results)
Examination of growing rabbits housed in pens without or with platform
No full textThe objective of this study was to test a new combination of deep litter and wire net floor. The experiment was conducted at the Kaposvár University using Pannon white rabbits (n = 193). The following experimental groups were formed: C = 20 cages (2 rabbits/cage, n = 40); P16 = 3 pens (14 rabbits/pen, 16 rabbits/m2, n = 42); P11 = 3 pens (9 rabbits/pen, 11 rabbits/m2, n = 27); PW = 3 pens with wire net elevated platform (14 rabbits/pen, 11 rabbits/m2, n = 42); PD = 3 pens with elevated platform deep litter on it (14 rabbits/pen, 11 rabbits/m2, n = 42). Rearing the rabbits in pens (P16, P12, PW, PD) decreased the body weight and weight gain, the ratio of the medium and hind part of the carcass (hind legs) and the fat depots compared to the caged rabbits. For dressing out percentage and for fore part of the carcass the effect of housing was significant only at the level of P<0.1. No significant differences were observed for feed consumption, feed conversion ratio and mortality. 11.1, 58.7 and 30.2% of the rabbits could be located at the platform of deep litter floor (1/3 basic area), at the area under the platform (1/3 basic area) and at areas near to the feeder or drinker (1/3 basic area). Using platforms of wire net floors most of the rabbits (43%) were located on the platforms. 31.5 and 25.5% of the rabbits stayed under the platform and at uncovered areas, respectively. Combination of wire net and deep litter floor hardly influence the production while the higher possibility for locomotory behaviour is favourably treated by the consumer. The rabbits can freely choose their location and replacing of the litter can also be easily performed in case of a removable platform
Examination of growing rabbits housed in cage or in pens without or with platform
No full textreplication) was conducted at the Kaposvár University using Pannon white rabbits (n = 193). The following
experimental groups were formed: C = 20 cages (2 rabbits/cage, n = 40); P16 = 3 pens (14 rabbits/pen, 16
rabbits/m2, n = 42); P11 = 3 pens (9 rabbits/pen, 11 rabbits/m2, n = 27); PW = 3 pens with wire net elevated platform
(14 rabbits/pen, 11 rabbits/m2, n = 42); PD = 3 pens with elevated platform deep litter on it (14 rabbits/pen, 11
rabbits/m2, n = 42). Rearing the rabbits in group PD decreased feed intake (FI), body weight (BW), weight gain
(AWG) and dressing out percentage (DoP). Significant (P<0.05) differences were found between group PD and P16
or P11 in BW (2841 and 2980 or 3012 g, resp.), in BWG (44.4 and 47.7 or 48.4 g/d, resp.), between PD and C or
P11 in FI (130 and 146 or 151 g/d, resp.), between PD and C in DoP (60.5 and 62.0%) and between PD and C or
P16 in the ratio of hind part (38.8 and 38.1 or 38.1%, resp.). No significant differences were observed for feed
conversion ratio, mortality perirenal and scapular fat percent. In group PD 16.7, 53.7 and 29.6% of the rabbits were
located on the platform (1/3 basic area), under the platform (1/3 basic area) and at areas near to the feeder or drinker
(1/3 basic area). In group PW the location of rabbits were most balanced (on the platform: 30.3%, under the
platform: 34.6%, near to feeder or drinker: 35.6%. Combination of wire net and deep litter floor (group PD) hardly
influence the production while the higher possibility for locomotory behaviour and staying on deep litter is consider
more favourably by the consumer. The rabbits can freely choose their location and replacing of the litter can also be
easily performed in case of a removable platform
Pannon breeding program in rabbit at Kaposvàr University
No full textIn this study the rabbit breeding program conducted at the Kaposvár University is extensively discussed.
Population history and management, creation and of the different synthetic lines, evolution of their selection
criteria, estimation of the genetic parameters and selection response are the main described elements. The
program (called Pannon rabbit breeding program) is operated with one maternal line and two paternal lines. At
present the maternal line is selected for number of kits born alive while the two paternal lines are pre-selected for
litter weight (Pannon White) and average daily gain (Pannon terminal line), respectively then they both selected
for thigh muscle volume (based on computer tomography measurements). All these traits are evaluated by BLUP
methodology. According to the genetic parameter estimations the heritability of the reproductive traits (number
of kits born alive and litter weight) were low (0.05-0.17 and 0.08-0.17). Average daily gain and thigh muscle
volume were only moderately heritable (0.21-0.27 and 0.19-0.25) while heritability estimates of the carcass traits
(dressing out percentage and hind part ratio) were high (0.47-0.48 and 0.59). Computer tomography based traits
showed favourable moderately high and high positive genetic correlations with the carcass traits (dressing out
percentage: 0.47 and hind part ratio: 0.59). On the contrary an unfavourable high negative correlation was
estimated between thigh muscle volume and litter weight (-0.37 -0.70). The selection responses obtained for all
analysed traits were within the range published by the relevant literature. The successfulness of the CT based
selection for improving meat production was justified by different methods (crossing experiment, divergent
selection, estimated genetic trends). Besides the slow increase of the inbreeding level of the Pannon White breed
also proves the effectiveness of the circular mating scheme used in all three rabbit breeds of the program
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