J. Ouhayoun

Effect of genetic origin, diet and weaning weight on carcass composition, muscle physicochemical and histochemical traits in the rabbit

Fifty rabbits originating from the crossing of one dam strain with three sire strains, Hy+, INRA 9077 and INRA 3889, were studied. The adult body weights of the sire strains were 5·1, 4·1 and 3·1kg, respectively. After weaning, the Hy+ and the INRA 9077 rabbits were fed either an H (11·99MJ DEkgDM(-1)) or L diet (9·67MJ DEkg DM(-1)). The INRA 3889 rabbits were fed only the H diet. In each of these five blocks, two weaning weights were studied and the rabbits were slaughtered when the average body weight of each block reached 2·5kg. Slaughter yield, carcass fatness and hindleg meat to bone ratio were determined. Muscular tissue was described using (1) physicochemical criteria (ultimate pH, L(*)a(*)b(*) colour) of the biceps femoris (BFE), tensor fasciae latae (TFL) and semimembranosus accessorius (SMA) muscles and (2) histochemical characteristics of the longissimus lumborum muscle (LL) through computerised image analysis (fibre type composition, cross-sectional area). At slaughter, the rabbits of INRA 3889 sire origin, which had the highest degree of maturity (72%), gave the best slaughter yield (p<0·01), the heaviest reference carcass weight (p<0·01), and highest LL proportion (p<0·01), hindleg meat to bone ratio (p<0·05) and fatness (p<0·01); their LL muscle showed the lowest percentage of βR fibres, while the cross-sectional area of their muscular fibres was the highest (p<0·05). When all sire × diet combinations were put together, the heavier the weaning weight, the lower the daily gain (p<0·01) and the lightness (L*) of thigh muscles (p<0·05). The lower the DE content of the diet, the lower the growth rate, the slaughter yield, the reference carcass weight (p<0·01) and the cross-sectional area of all types of muscle fibres of the rabbits of both Hy+ and INRA 9077 sire origin.

Effect of feed rationing during post-weaning growth on meat quality, muscle energy metabolism and fibre properties of Biceps femoris muscle in the rabbit.

During the weaning period (5 weeks of age), 50 hybrid rabbits were divided at random into five groups (or blocks). Animals from the block 1 were immediately slaughtered at this age and used as initial reference. The remaining rabbits were placed in individual cages and fed the same amount of food until slaughter, but differently rationed. From 5 to 8 weeks of age, the rabbits coming from blocks 2 and 4, and from blocks 3 and 5 received 70% and 90% of the ad libitum ration, respectively. Animals of blocks 2 and 3 were slaughtered at 8 weeks of age. Between 8 and 11 weeks of age, animals from blocks 4 and 5 were fed, respectively, 90% and 70% of the ad libitum ration, prior to sacrifice. At slaughter the Biceps femoris (BF) muscles were immediately removed from each rabbit and the ultimate pH (pHu) and meat colour L*a*b* parameters were measured. Thereafter, one BF was used for aldolase and isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH) activity determinations, while the other BF muscle was used for fibre distribution (% of βR, αR and αW) and morphometric trait measurements. As expected, at 8 weeks of age, rabbits given for 3 weeks the strictest feed rationing (70% of the ad libitum ration) were lighter than rabbits fed the lowest feed rationing (90% of the ad libitum ration). At 11 weeks of age, rabbits given the 70% ration initially and then switched to 90% ration showed significantly higher body weights than rabbits fed the alternative diet (90% ration initially and then switched to 70% ration), and the best feed conversion ratio. Fibre type distribution, fibre cross-sectional area and compactness, colour and metabolic characteristics varied according to slaughter age. The effects of feeding treatment were low.

Effect of age, diet and sex on muscle energy metabolism and on related physicochemical traits in the rabbit.

Muscle energy metabolism and related physicochemical traits of the meat were studied in 84 Provisal hybrid rabbits of both sexes. From weaning (30 days) to 55 days of age, the rabbits were divided into 4 groups which were given ad libitum one of the following diets: H diet with high digestible energy (DE) level, L diet with low DE level, F diet with high DE level, obtained by supplementing with animal fats, and W diet with moderate DE level. The H, L and F diet were suitable for lactating does and weaning rabbits; the W diet for weaned young rabbits. From 55 days to slaughter age, the rabbits were given a G diet suitable for growing and fattening. The rabbits were slaughtered at 55 days (23 rabbits), 80 days (31 rabbits) or 87 days (30 rabbits) of age. The activity of a representative enzyme of the glycolytic (fructose-1,6-diP aldolase) and oxidative (NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase: ICDH) energy metabolism pathways and two related physicochemical traits, namely lightness (L (∗)) and ultimate pH (pH(u)), were determined in the biceps femoris (BF) and longissimus lumborum (LL) muscles. The chemical composition of whole longissimus dorsi (LD) and total hindleg (HL) muscles was also determined. In BF and LL muscles, the activity of the glycolytic energy metabolism increased during the fattening period, as a result of metabolic differentiation. The increase stopped earlier in BF than in LL muscle. Variations in pH(u) values followed the same trend. The dietary effect on biochemical and physicochemical traits was moderate. A slight decrease in muscle pH(u) was observed under the less energetic diets. Aldolase activity was significantly higher in females. The significant correlations between metabolic and physicochemical traits confirmed that as glycolytic energy metabolism increases, the protein content increases, whereas pH(u) decreases. Slaughter weight was positively correlated to glycolytic energy metabolism.

Post-weaning evolution of muscle energy metabolism and related physico-chemical traits in the rabbit.

Metabolic differentiation in muscles was analysed in 50 rabbits of New Zealand White breed (strain INRA 1077) slaughtered at 28, 42, 56, 70 or 84 days. The activity of enzymes representing the glycolytic (fructose 1,6-diP aldolase) and the oxidative (NADP-isocitrate dehydrogenase) (ICDH) energy metabolism pathways, and two related physico-chemical traits, haem pigment content and ultimate pH, were estimated in semimembranosus proprius + soleus, psoas major and longissimus lumborum muscles. Aldolase activity was lowest in semimbranosus proprius + soleus, which are pure βR and the most precociously developed muscles, whereas haem pigment content and ultimate pH were highest; however, physico-chemical traits changed moderately during growth. In the psoas major (pure αW) and in the longissimus lumborum (mixed muscle), which develop later, aldolase activity increased until the 56th and 70th day respectively. The decrease in ICDH activity lasted longer, especially in the longissimus lumborum muscle. A significant negative relationship between aldolase activity and ultimate pH may explain why the ultimate pH decreased during fattening.

Effect of clenbuterol on productive performance, body composition and muscle biochemistry in the rabbit.

Twenty New Zealand White rabbits (INRA 1077 strain) were given a complete and balanced diet including a clenbuterol additive (100 μg per day) between 70 and 98 days. They were compared with 20 control rabbits. The treatment improved the growth performance (29.90 vs 26.07 g/day), the feed conversion (5.45 vs 6.46 g feed per g gain) and the carcass yield (64.37 vs 61.11%), by decreasing the relative weights of the skin and the digestive tract. Moreover, all organs in which development is precocious, were found to be relatively lighter. The muscle/bone ratio of the carcass was improved (7.56 vs 6.38), resulting in a greater relative development of muscle tissue, without any change in bone tissue weight. Perirenal and interscapular fat percentages in the carcass were reduced (3.23 vs 3.83 and 0.68 vs 0.86, respectively). Clenbuterol, a repartitioning agent, had therefore modified the growth allometry of the organs and tissues. In the hindleg region (Biceps femoris, Tensor fasciae latae, Semimembranosus accessorius), the ultimate muscular pH was increased, (+0.31 pH units on average), while the cooking loss was reduced (24.23 vs 24.88%). In the m. longissimus lumborum, the increase of ultimate pH (+0.31 units of pH), under the effect of clenbuterol, was explained by a relative increase in the oxidative metabolic pathway represented by aldolase/ICDH ratio (246 vs 284) and by a decrease in glucidic content (total glycosyl residues) of muscle (16.6 vs 26.2 μ mol g ). Due to its effects on muscular biology, clenbuterol is thus likely to cause a change in meat quality.

Rabbit growth, feed efficiency and body composition: Effects of recombinant porcine somatotropin

The effects of recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST) were studied on rabbits from INRA 1077 strain, between the ages of 70 and 90 days. Ten rabbits received a daily intramuscular rpST injection (100 mg per day per kg of live weight) and were compared with ten control rabbits. Growth rate and feed efficiency were not affected by treatment. Perirenal fat deposits were smaller in rpST-treated than in the control rabbits (2·01 vs 2·72%) as were reference carcass lipid content (9·4 vs 10·8) and energy value (0·84 vs 0·88 MJ /100 g). The ratio between polyunsaturated fatty acids (FA) and saturated and monounsaturated FA was higher (0·32 vs 0·28). Reference carcass protein content was increased (20·5 vs 19·9%), as was the percentage of skin in slaughter weight (14·3 vs 13·4%). Muscular ultimate pH (24 h post mortem) was lower in the semimembranosus accessorius (5·67 vs 5·78) and in the biceps femmoris (5·65 vs 5·74) of treated rabbits. In conclusion, rpST, as a heterologous hormone, develops protein-rich tissues whilst lowering fat content and appears to affect the balance of muscular energy metabolism.