Response of fattening rabbits reared under different housing conditions. 2. Carcass and meat quality

Abstract This 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to study the effects of housing system (pair caged – cage – : 2 rabbits/0.122 m 2 vs open top pen housed – pen – : 13 rabbits/0.86 m 2 ; same stocking density), floor type (wire mesh vs plastic net), and environmental enrichment (with vs without gnawing stick) on the meat quality of Pannon White growing rabbits ( n  = 64). The housing system significantly influenced slaughter weight (2590 vs 2531 g in cage or pen, respectively; P P P u than that of those reared paired in cages. Hind leg meat dry matter and protein content were also influenced by the housing system (26.3 vs 25.9%, 21.9 vs 21.6%; in cage or pen, respectively; P P P P b ⁎ value and increasing m. Longissimus dorsi shear force (0.60 vs 0.50 kg/cm 2 ; P