Rendimiento comparativo de componentes de la canal de conejos F1 de padre Nueva Zelanda Rojo o Gigante de Flandes

Abstract

Worldwide rabbit production is based on meat breeds such as the New Zealand Red variety (NZR). There are also ornamental breeds such as the Flemish Giant (FG), with a large mature body. In Europe, meat x giant crossbreds display excellent yields. This study compared the performance of rabbits sired by a NZR (n=six males, six females) or an FG buck (n=nine males, nine females) in Californian-crossbred does. At 91 to 93 d of age, the rabbits were weighed (live BW) and slaughtered. The carcass, viscera, skin, liver, kidneys, lungs, heart, legs (fore and hind), loin, and abdominal fat were weighed. Yields from carcass, legs, and loin were determined. Data were analyzed by Proc GLIMMIX (SAS). There was no sire x gender (P>0.05) or gender (P>0.05) effects. The NZR-crossbreds presented lower BW (P=0.0048) and lighter carcasses (P=0.0314), viscera (P=0.0172), skin (P=0.0004), kidneys (P=0.0004), lungs (P=0.0453), and hind legs (P=0.0007) than the FG-crossbreds. The observed differences, on average, were 380.51, 158.76, 80.64, 104.58, 2.40, 1.70, and 0.79 g, respectively. The NZR crossbreds had 0.79% lower hind leg yields (P=0.0181). No other differences were observed between bucks (P>0.05). The NZR-crossbreds had smaller carcasses than their FG counterparts. Crossbreeding giant x meat rabbits should be considered to maximize Puerto Rico’s rabbit production.