Carcass characteristics of rabbits raised in the semi-arid region of Nigeria

Authors : Emmanuel Abayomi ROTIMI, Hussaina Babba USMAN, Abduljalal Musa ALIYU

Pages : 93-97

Doi:10.37908/mkutbd.781072

View : 14 | Download : 10

Publication Date : 2021-04-19

Article Type : Research Paper

Abstract :Aims: This study was carried out to investigate the carcass characteristics of male and female rabbits raised in the semi-arid condition. Methods and Results: Twenty-four insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(24); rabbits, comprising of 12 bucks and 12 does, were used for this study. At 12 weeks of age, the rabbits were weighed and slaughtered. Parameters measured include; pre-slaughter weight insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(kg);, hot carcass weight insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(g);, four primal cut weights insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(shoulder, ribs, loin and rump);, internal organs weight insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(liver, lungs, kidneys, hearts, stomach and intestines);. Sex had non-significant effects on the pre-slaughter, hot carcass and the four primal cuts weights insert ignore into journalissuearticles values(shoulder, ribs, loin and rump);. Conclusion: Conclusively, sexual dimorphism existed in the weights of the internal organs such as; liver, lungs, kidneys and intestines where female rabbits had higher weights. However, the pre-slaughter, hot carcass, shoulder, rib, loin and rump weights were not significantly affected by sex, implying that any of the sex could be safely utilize for meat production. Pre-slaughter weight was positively correlated with the weights of hot carcass, shoulder, rib, loin and rump while negatively correlated with liver, stomach and intestine. Significance and Impact of Study: Pre-slaughter weight could be use as selection criterion for improvement of carcass quality in rabbits.
Keywords : Carcass, rabbit, sex