Simple item page
 

Rabbit gains: Does a free-range rearing build better muscle in rabbits?

cris.lastimport.scopus2025-10-23T06:57:22Z
cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0002-2626-9329
cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0002-3009-3346
cris.virtual.author-orcid0000-0001-8943-0266
cris.virtual.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtual.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtualsource.author-orcidf24d1760-910b-4055-b5f0-f9a09bb1102f
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid11dda879-cf30-4a05-9847-3e80d2ba025c
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid88cac701-0bd6-4106-9279-6d4f5ac4709c
cris.virtualsource.author-orcid#PLACEHOLDER_PARENT_METADATA_VALUE#
dc.abstract.enThis study evaluated the effects of two rabbit housing systems—conventional cages and park platforms—on slaughter traits, meat quality, and muscle fiber characteristics in broiler rabbits (PS19 × PS59). Rabbits reared in the park system exhibited significantly higher slaughter weights and lower fat deposition compared to those raised in cages. While hot and chilled carcass weights showed a tendency to increase in park-reared rabbits, dressing percentages remained unaffected. Organ weights such as liver and skin were significantly higher in the platform group, suggesting increased metabolic activity and physiological adaptation to enhanced mobility. Meat from platform-reared rabbits demonstrated significantly lower pH and increased redness and yellowness indices, indicating improved color intensity. Texture analysis revealed higher plasticity in these rabbits, especially in the hindquarters, reflecting softer meat without altering shear force or nutritional composition. Although the proportions of muscle fiber types (I, IIA, IIB) were consistent across housing systems, rabbits from the park system showed significantly larger cross-sectional area, perimeter, and diameters of type IIA and IIB fibers, suggesting muscle fiber hypertrophy due to increased physical activity. These findings suggest that enriched environments, such as park systems, not only improve animal welfare but also enhance meat quality attributes desirable to consumers—such as color and texture—without compromising nutritional value or production efficiency. The study supports the adoption of alternative housing systems in commercial rabbit farming as a viable strategy for promoting leaner, high-quality meat and improved muscle development, in line with consumer expectations for ethical and sustainable animal production.
dc.affiliationWydział Medycyny Weterynaryjnej i Nauk o Zwierzętach
dc.affiliation.instituteKatedra Hodowli Zwierząt i Oceny Surowców
dc.contributor.authorSkładanowska-Baryza, Joanna
dc.contributor.authorŻochowska-Kujawska, Joanna
dc.contributor.authorSobczak, Małgorzata
dc.contributor.authorLudwiczak, Agnieszka
dc.contributor.authorStanisz, Marek
dc.date.access2025-07-09
dc.date.accessioned2025-07-09T11:59:18Z
dc.date.available2025-07-09T11:59:18Z
dc.date.copyright2025-06-27
dc.date.issued2025
dc.description.accesstimeat_publication
dc.description.bibliographyil., bibliogr.
dc.description.financepublication_nocost
dc.description.financecost0,00
dc.description.if1,9
dc.description.numberSeptember 2025
dc.description.points140
dc.description.versionfinal_published
dc.description.volume299
dc.identifier.doi10.1016/j.livsci.2025.105776
dc.identifier.eissn1878-0490
dc.identifier.issn1871-1413
dc.identifier.urihttps://sciencerep.up.poznan.pl/handle/item/3832
dc.identifier.weblinkhttps://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1871141325001374?via%3Dihub
dc.languageen
dc.pbn.affiliationanimal science and fisheries
dc.relation.ispartofLivestock Science
dc.relation.pagesart. 105776
dc.rightsCC-BY
dc.sciencecloudsend
dc.share.typeOTHER
dc.subject.enrabbit meat quality
dc.subject.enhousing systems
dc.subject.enmuscle fiber hypertrophy
dc.subject.encarcass traits
dc.titleRabbit gains: Does a free-range rearing build better muscle in rabbits?
dc.typeJournalArticle
dspace.entity.typePublication
oaire.citation.volume299