J. Anim Sci.
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J. Anim Sci. 1983. 57:899-907.
© 1983 American Society of Animal Science
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Appraisal of Nine Genetic Groups of Rabbits for Carcass and Lean Yield Traits1

Steven Lukefahr2, W. D. Hohenboken2, P. R. Cheeke2 and N. M. Patton3

Oregon State University, Corvallis 97331

Abstract

Carcass data on 137 rabbits representing nine genetic groups and both sexes were analyzed to determine the effects of medium and large sire breeds and of straightbred and hybrid dams on carcass and lean yield characteristics. Sire breeds were Californian (C), New Zealand White (N) and Flemish Giant (F). Dam genetic groups were C and N straightbred and C x N reciprocal hybrid dams. The genetic group effect was important (P<.05) for all traits except proportion of the carcass in forequarter and loin and percentages of meat in primal cuts. Sex and genetic group x sex interaction were never important (P>.05) sources of variation. Age of rabbit at slaughter influenced (P<.05) nearly all carcass traits. Progeny from C sires or dams had lighter preslaughter and carcass weights, higher dressing percentages and a smaller hindquarter proportion than progeny from N sires or dams. Also, percentages of bone in forequarter, loin and hindquarter cuts were consistently lower, meat to bone ratio was higher, but cooking losses were greater in rabbits from C vs N sires or dams. Progeny from F sires had heavier (P<.01) preslaughter and carcass weights, tended to deposit less abdominal fat, had a smaller giblet percentage and had a larger hindquarter proportion, compared with the average of progeny of C and N sires. In addition, percentages of bone in forequarter and hindquarter cuts were greater (P<.01), while percentage of bone in the loin cut did not differ between F vs combined C and N sire progeny groups. Meat to bone ratio was less and cooking loss percentage was lower in F- vs the average of C- and N-sired progeny. However, no sire breed differences were observed for total meat percentage. Maternal heterotic and direct heterotic effects on carcass traits were generally negligible except that carcass weights were heavier (P<.05) in F-sired rabbits reared by hybrid vs straightbred dams. Residual correlations showed positive relationships between carcass weight, abdominal fat percentage and dressing percentage. Meat percentage of each primal cut was highly correlated with total meat percentage of the carcass. Experimental results suggest the utilization of a large terminal-sire breed with hybrid dam stock to increase carcass weights of market rabbits.

Footnotes

1 Technical Paper No. 6612, Oregon Agr. Exp. Sta. and USDA Small Farms Project.

2 Dept. of Anim. Sci.

3 Lab. Anim. Resources.






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Copyright © 1983 by the American Society of Animal Science.