Effect of adult weight and CT-based selection on rabbit meat quality

This study compared the meat quality of different genotypes. Maternal (M; adult weight/AW/=4.0-4.5kg; selected for the number of kits born alive), Pannon White (P; AW=4.3-4.8kg) and Large type (L; AW=4.8-5.4kg) rabbits were analysed. P and L genotypes were selected for carcass traits based on CT/Computer tomography/data. Rabbits were slaughtered at 11wk of age and hindleg (HL) meat and M. Longissimus dorsi (LD) were analysed for proximate composition and fatty acid (FA) profile. Proximate composition was unaffected by the selection programme, even though the meat of P rabbits was leaner and had higher ash content (P<0.10). The LD meat of P rabbits exhibited significantly lower MUFA contents compared to M and L rabbits (25.4 vs 28.0 vs 27.7%; P<0.01) and higher PUFA content compared to M rabbits (31.9 vs 24.9%; P<0.05). This study revealed that long-term CT-based selection is effective in increasing meat leanness and PUFA content.