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    Rabbits Divergently Selected for Total Body Fat Content: Changes in Proximate Composition and Fatty Acids of Different Meat Portions

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    The present research studied the potential of a four-generation divergent selection (Pannon maternal rabbit lines) based on the total body fat content to create two rabbit lines with different meat attributes: a Fat line to deliver greater amounts of healthy fatty acids for newborns and infants, and a Lean line intended to provide lean meat for everyday consumption. Selection was based on the fat index calculated in 10-week-old live rabbits by means of computed tomography (CT). For each generation, 60 rabbits/line were fed ad libitum with commercial pellet from weaning (5 weeks) to slaughter (11 weeks). A total of 15 rabbits/line were randomly selected for meat quality evaluations: the longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscles (LTLs), hind legs (HLs), forelegs (FLs) and abdominal wall (AW) were analyzed for their proximate composition and fatty acid (FA) profile. FA contents were also calculated. Results highlighted that it was possible to obtain leaner meat for everyday consumption in most meat portions starting from generation 4 (7.93 vs. 11.9, 5.10 vs. 5.98 and 7.26 vs. 10.9 g of lipids/100 g of meat in Lean and Fat groups for the FLs, HLs and AW, respectively). The sole exception was the LTLs, which were not affected by the divergent selection. The total PUFA amount increased in FL and AW (p < 0.05) portions of the Fat line only, attributable to a greater n-3 amount (151 vs. 216 and 73 vs. 143 mg/100 g of meat in Lean and Fat groups for the FLs and AW, respectively)

    Effect of Digestarom® dietary supplementation on the reproductive performances of rabbit does: preliminary results

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    The study investigated the effect of Digestarom® dietary supplementation on the reproductive performances of rabbit does. Pannon Ka (maternal line) multiparous does were randomly divided into two dietary groups since insemination and fed ad libitum. In the first group (n=51), rabbit does were fed with a commercial diet (C), whereas in the other group (n=52) they received the same diet supplemented with 300 mg/kg of Digestarom® (D). The experiment lasted for two reproductive cycles (kindling 1=K1; kindling 2=K2). Body weight of does and litter size (kits born total, alive, stillborn) were recorded at kindling. Litter size and litter weight were registered at 7, 14, 21 days of age after nursing, and the average individual weight of kits was calculated. Kits’ mortality was recorded daily. At K1, rabbit does performances were unaffected by dietary treatments. During K2, D does were significantly lighter than C ones (P<0.05) and displayed a lower kindling rate (P<0.05). Digestarom® did not improve the reproductive performance of rabbit does. They seemed to dislike the D diet in K1 and such behavior could have led to the negative results in K2. Further studies should focus on feed acceptance, dose-dependent effect, physiological adaptation and in vivo oxidative status of does. Finally, several consecutive reproductive cycles are recommended to test the efficacy of new feed supplements
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