Study on the factors affecting carcass traits of broiler rabbits in eastern Himalayan region of India.

Abstract

Two hundred and ten adult rabbits of both sexes and belonging to four breeds: New Zealand White (NZW), Soviet Chinchilla (SC), Local (LC) and crossbred (CB) were used for this experiment. Rabbits were kept individually in cages under hutch housing conditions. Concentrate mash feed was fed at 100 g/head/d and green roughage ad libitum as per availability in different seasons. Rabbit slaughtering data were grouped in 4 categories: 3-5; 6-8; 9-11 and > abo- ve 11 m of age. All the data were classifi ed by preslaughter weight, age at slaughter, breed and sex prior to statistical analysis. Slaughter weight, slaughter age, breed and sex had highly signifi cant (P<0.01) effects on carcass weight of rabbits. The overall carcass weight was 854 g and SC was signifi cantly (P<0.05) higher to NZW and CB. Also females? carcass weight was signifi cantly higher than males (875 and 723 g, respectively). Dressed meat weight (including the edible organs) was signifi cantly (P<0.01) affected by slaughter age, breed and sex. Dressing yield amounted on avera- ge 54.8% and sex, breed or slaughter age did not have a signifi cant effect. Only preslaughter weight had a signifi cant (P<0.05) effect on dressing %, with the highest value for the heaviest rabbits. Inedible offal weight amounted on average 679 g and all the 4 studied factors had a signifi cant (P<0.01) effect on this part.