Effect of housing conditions and feeding system on slaughter performance parameters of Popielno White rabbits

Abstract

The objective of the study was to determine the production potential (rearing performance, fattening performance and dressing percentage) of rabbits of the native breed Popielno White raised in backyard conditions. The study was conducted on 261 young rabbits housed indoors in single-tier cages and outdoors in wooden multi-tier cages. During the spring and summer season, 20 females with all of their offspring were fed complete diets, while another 20 does and their offspring received on-farm feed ad libitum. The offspring kept in open-air cages and those kept indoors were evaluated for rearing performance. Six 90-day-old rabbits (3 males and 3 females) from each experimental group were slaughtered. The Popielno White rabbits fed complete diets and housed indoors had an average body weight of 2,609 g on day 77 and as much as 2,992 g at 90 days of age. The animals reared in outdoor cages weighed 2,067 g and 2,365 g, respectively, at the same ages. Feed conversion was only 3.41 kg for rabbits housed indoors, and slightly higher, at 3.66 kg, for those housed outdoors. The growth of the young Popielno White rabbits fed on-farm feed was much lower than that of the animals receiving complete feeds. The rabbits kept indoors reached a body weight of 2,500 g at 120 days of age while those housed outdoors attained this weight at 130 days. Differences in body weight between sexes were not observed until the age of 120 days. The highest dressing percentage was obtained for the carcasses of rabbits receiving the complete diet, irrespective of the housing system.