The potential role of feed restriction on productivity, carcass composition, meat quality, and muscle fibre properties of growing rabbits: A review.

After weaning rabbits, two post-weaning feed restriction (FR) programs are used: a quantitative FR (quantity of feed-limited or time-limited access to feed) or a qualitative FR (modification of diet composition in particularly protein, energy or fibre). Application of post-weaning FR has potential to control post-weaning digestive disorders, and early lower growth rates may be compensated for by later compensatory growth. FR strategies also have potential to enhance feed conversion ratio and reduce carcass fatness. FR may also influence meat chemical composition and physical quality characteristics via controlling the morphological and biochemical properties of muscle fibres. The purpose of this review was to shed light on recent findings regarding benefits of FR on productive performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality characteristics, and muscle fibre properties in growing rabbits.

The effect of feed restriction, sex and age on the carcass composition and meat quality of nutrias (Myocastor coypus).

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of quantitative feed restriction on the carcass composition and physical, chemical, histochemical and sensory properties of meat from male and female nutria at the end of the feed restriction and fattening period. In the experiment, from two to eight months of age, males and females were divided into two groups: one group was fed ad libitum throughout the experiment, and the second group was restricted to two weeks (from 11 to 12 weeks of age). The restricted nutrias received 75% ad libitum feeding. The significant interaction among feed restriction, sex and age was revealed only in the cross-sectional area of all muscle fiber types. Age was the main factor affecting carcass composition and meat quality characteristics. Sex-related differences in carcass composition and some sensory attributes and feed restriction-related differences in carcass composition were observed.

Combined Effect of Genotype, Housing System, and Calcium on Performance and Eggshell Quality of Laying Hens.

The objective of this study was to evaluate hen performance and eggshell quality response to genotype, housing system, and feed calcium (Ca) level. For this purpose, an experiment was conducted on 360 laying hens of ISA Brown, Bovans Brown (commercial hybrids), and Moravia BSL (traditional Czech hybrid). Laying hens were kept in enriched cages and on littered floor and fed similar feed mixtures with different Ca content (3.00% vs. 3.50%). In terms of hen performance, ISA Brown had the highest egg production (84.2%) compared to Moravia BSL (74.3%) and Bovans Brown (71.4%). Regarding eggshell quality, Bovans Brown showed the highest values of all eggshell quality parameters. Increasing feed Ca level augmented egg production (p ≤ 0.001) but had no effect on other performance parameters. Except eggshell thickness, all eggshell quality parameters were affected by the three-way interaction of genotype, housing, and Ca. Bovans Brown, which had the strongest eggshells (5089 g/cm2) when housed on a littered floor system and fed 3.00% Ca, while Moravia BSL housed on a littered floor had the weakest eggshells (4236 g/cm2) at 3.50% Ca. The study pointed out the importance of the interactions between studied factors on performance and eggshell quality compared to an individual factor effect.

The effect of age, genotype and sex on carcass traits, meat quality and sensory attributes of geese.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare carcass traits, meat quality and sensory attributes in two different genotypes of geese according to age and sex. METHODS: The experiment was carried out on 160 birds of two genotypes of geese: the Czech Goose (CG) breed and a Eskildsen Schwer (ES) hybrid. One-d-old goslings were divided into four groups according to genotype and sex. Two dates for slaughtering (at 8 and 16 wk of age of goslings) were undertaken. RESULTS: The slaughter weight, cold carcass weight and dressing percentage were affected by all the studied factors, and significant interactions between age, genotype and sex were detected in the slaughter weight (p<0.001) and cold carcass weight (p = 0.004). The pH was not affected by any of studied factors, whereas in terms of meat colour parameters there were observed significant effects of age on L* and b* value and a significant effect of sex on a* value. The meat fat content was higher (p = 0.002) in ES. Higher score for overall acceptance of goose meat was recorded for ES at both ages compared to CG. CONCLUSION: ES had higher dressing percentage and better sensory attributes, whereas CG exceled in the favourable nutritional value of the meat.