Efficiency of meat-fattening rabbits farmed by different keeping technologies

Abstract

In Russia, different technologies are used for keeping commercial young animals in the production of rabbit meat. The main ones are in rooms with a controlled microclimate (imported young rabbits) and sheds (domestic breeds). The aim of the study was to establish the dominant factors that determine efficiency of rabbit meat production under different keeping technologies and dry feeding. Experimental studies were conducted according to classical zootechnical methods. The experiment in the room with controlled conditions was carried out on crossbred young animals - f rom Californian and New Zealand white breeds, which were imported from France in 2010; the experiment on domestic breed - Soviet chinchilla - was carried out under shed keeping technology. During the fattening period all rabbits were fed with complete granulated compound feed with an identical ratio of nutrients: 16.0 % protein and 17.5 % fiber for crossbred rabbits; 16.4 % protein and 17.9 % fiber for Soviet chinchilla rabbits. Slaughter of Soviet chinchilla rabbits and crossbred rabbits for meat was carried out at the age of 90 and 77 days, respectively. Analysis of the dynamics of live weight showed that at the age of 45 days and at the time of slaughter crossbred young rabbits exceeded Soviet chinchilla rabbits by 204.5 g and 240.0 g, respectively. Meanwhile, the relative growth of crossbred rabbits was not much higher than this indicator in Soviet chinchilla rabbits (by 3.4 and 4.1 %, respectively). The pre-slaughter weight was also significantly higher in crossbred animals, and the carcass weight was significantly higher in Soviet chinchilla rabbits. Accordingly, in the Soviet chinchilla the slaughter yield was 9.2 % higher than that of the crossbred rabbits, that is in meat production in the Soviet chinchilla more organic matter goes into products and less to waste. This testifies to the fact that by the age of 77 days the crossbred rabbits did not realize their full meat potential. Thus, considering the increased energy costs in buildings with a controlled microclimate, both technologies for keeping commercial young rabbits have the same chances in the production of rabbit meat.