Desempenho, rendimento e qualidade de carcaça de coelhos Nova Zelândia Brancos em diferentes idades ao abate

Abstract

This work was developed with the objective of evaluating the zootechnical performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of White New Zealand rabbits at different ages at slaughter. The design was done in completely randomized blocks with several treatments and twelve replications. We used 48 New Zealand white rabbits, of both sexes, fed with commercial feed ad libitum. The treatments were 60, 70, 80 and 90 days at slaughter, the performance and carcass data were evaluated by analysis of variance and linear regression. For the performance variables weight, daily weight gain, daily intake and feed conversion was observed, having been influenced (P<0,05) for the ages. The final weight and feed conversion presented increasing linear effect, daily intake and daily weight gain presented a decreasing linear effect depending on the age. The average costs with the diet (R$ / kg) was higher for rabbits slaughtered at 80 days of age. When evaluated carcass characteristics the variables hot carcass weight, cold carcass weight, weight of foreleg, weight of the loin, weight of the cervical thoracic region, weight hindlimb presented significant and increased linearly as a function of age. For eatable viscera only heart weight, weight of the digestive system correlated with age, and weight of kidney fat, however weight of the kidneys, liver weight and weight the lungs showed no significance. The hot and cold carcasses, and the previous cutting performance were significant for the meat’s chemical composition. For meat quality compared to meat / bone showed higher muscle deposition according to age. The pH of the cooled carcass presented a linear decrease with the increase of the age of slaughter, denoting, a greater reserve of glycogen in the older animals. No difference was observed in the chemical composition of the meat. The best performance of the animals combined with the time of rearing is to obtain younger animals, so the animals at 70 days of age are the most suitable for slaughter.