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[EN] Genetic parameters for average daily gain between the age of 5 and 10 weeks (ADG), the average cross-sectional area of the m. Longissimus dorsi (L) (between the 2nd-3rd and 4th-5th lumbar vertebrae-based on in vivo computerized tomography (CT)) and dressing out percentage (DoP) were estimated in a group of 28,686 Pannon White rabbits reared in 5044 litters and bom between 2000 and 2003. Using multivariate animal models with Bayesian procedures, estimated heritabilities were moderate and moderately high for ADG, L and DoP (0.21 to 0.29, 0.25 to 0.42 and 0.19 to 0.71, respectively). Litter effects were moderate for ADG, L and DoP estimates (0.20 to 0.22, 0.10 to 0.18 and 0.09 to 0.30, respectively). Genetic correlation coefficient estimates between ADG and L and ADG and DoP were moderate and negative (-0.41 to -0.01, -0.70 to +0.10). A moderately high positive genetic correlation was found between L and DoP (0.13 to 0.83). (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

[EN] The aim of this experiment was to study the carcass traits of rabbits when the same maternal stocks were mated with bucks of two well-known hybrids selected for growth traits or with Pannon White bucks selected for carcass traits by CT (computerised tomography). Three experiments were carried out at the same time. Experiment 1: Pannon White (P) or Hycole terminal (H) males were crossed with Pannon White (P) does (n=PP: 60, HP:59). Experiment 2: Pannon White (P), Hycole terminal (H) or Zika terminal (Z) bucks were crossed with Hycole (H) parent does (n=PH: 60, HH:52 and ZH:58). Experiment 3: Pannon White (P) or Zika terminal (Z) males were crossed with a Maternal line (M) stock (n=PM: 60, ZM:58). In all the experiments, hybrid males increased their body weight. Mating the same maternal stock with hybrid or Pannon White bucks, the body weight of the offspring of hybrid males was higher than that of the offspring of Pannon White bucks (Experiment 1: PP and HP:2644 and 2758 g, P<0.001; Experiment 2: PH, HH and ZH:2611, 2671 and 2890g, P<0.001; Experiment 3: PM and ZM:2534 and 2677 g, P<0.001). The most important carcass traits differences were found in rabbits originated from Pannon White males. Genetic origin influenced the dressing out percentage, which was 0.5% higher in PP rabbits compared to the HP group in Experiment 1 (60.6 and 60.1%, resp.; P=0.092); 1% higher in PH and ZH genotypes compared to HH animals in Experiment 2 (in PH, ZH and HH:59.6, 59.7 and 58.7%; P=0.008), and 1.5% higher in PM than in ZM rabbits in Experiment 3 (61.0 and 59.5%, resp.; P<0.001). The ratio of the m. Longissimus dorsi to reference carcass weight was also higher in rabbits derived from P males in Experiments 2 and 3 (Experiment 2: PH:11.2, HH:10.8, ZH:10.5%, P<0.001; Experiment 3: PM:11.5, ZM:10.6%, P<0.001), while it did not differ in Experiment 1. Significant difference in fat deposit was found only in Experiment 3, progeny of Pannon White males had higher weight (22.3 vs. 16.6

[EN] One hundred and sixty one weaned New Zealand White rabbits were housed in 0.4x0.4 m cages (3 rabbits/cage, 18.7 rabbits/m2) or in 3x3.3 m pen on deep litter (80 rabbits/pen, 8.1 rabbits/m2). At 13 weeks of age the pen-housed rabbits (n=52) had lower body weight (2318 vs 2437 g; P<0.01) and dressing percentage (59.8 vs 61.0 %; P<0.01), higher proportion of the fore part (32.3 vs 31.4 %; P<0.01) and hind part (40.3 vs 37.9 %; P<0.001), and lower proportion of the intermediate part of the carcass (27.5 vs 30.7 %; P<0.001) than the cage-housed rabbits (n=68). The percentage of perirenal fat was lower in the pen-housed rabbits (0.45 vs 0.83 % P<0.001) than in the cage-housed group. The meat on the hind legs (HL) and the m. longissimus dorsi (MLD) of pen-housed rabbits contained more water (HL: 75.0 vs 73.9 %; MLD: 74.6 vs 74.0 %; P<0.001) but less protein (HL: 21.3 vs 21.5 %; MLD: 23.6 vs 23.9 %; P< 0.05) and fat (HL: 2.48 vs 3.36 %; MLD: 0.65 vs 0.90 %; P<0.05) than those kept in cages. The housing system had no effect on ash content and pH value of the meat samples.