The Influence of Residual Linamarin in Dried Cassava Peel Meal on Carcass Yield and Gut Characteristics of Weaner Rabbits

A feeding trial was conducted to assess the effects of residual linamarin on carcass yield and gut characteristics of rabbits fed diets containing sun dried cassava peel meal (CPM). The experiment was conducted using a completely randomized design involving four diets of 16% crude protein. The CPM was included at 0, 30, 35 and 40% levels. Rabbits used for the studies were fed for 42 days and were all serially slaughtered fortnightly. During each slaughter, two rabbits were randomly selected, starved overnight and slaughtered. They were skinned, eviscerated and the carcasses cut up into parts and weighed. The guts were separated into; small intestine, large intestine, caecum and appendix. Each of the visceral parts were weighed and their length recorded. The results showed that chest and back were significantly (P<0.05) affected by dietary treatments. Also the carcass yield obtained over time of slaughter indicated a significant (P<0.05) effect on the weight of the back. The time of slaughter x diet interaction effect showed no significant difference on all parameters. The results of the guts showed that, dietary influence were only obtained on the weights of the caeca (P<0.001) and appendix (P<0.05). There were significant diferences on the  weights of large intestine (P<0.05), caeca (P<0.01) and appendix (P<0.001) over the period of slaughter. There is also a highly significant (P<0.001) difference in the length of the caeca. The results of the interaction effect on time of slaughter x diet for all the visceral parts (guts) measured showed a highly significant (P<0.001) interaction effect on the weight of the caeca and that of the small intestine (P<0.05). The studies indicated that despite sun drying, linamarin, a cyanogenic glucosides still has some potential toxic effects as manifested on the carcass yield, large intestine, caeca and appendix. It is thus, suggested that prolonged feeding of CPM must be investigated to safeguard against poisoning. It might also affect caecotrophy in the caeca and the absorption of nutrients in the appendix. Keywords: Linamarin, gut characteristics, dried cassava peels, rabbit

Carcass characteristics and meat quality of rabbit litters from rabbit does restricted during pregnancy

The effect of restricted feeding and realimentation during pregnancy was studied to know the carryover effect on carcass characteristics and meat quality of rabbit litters.Young does fed ad libitum diets often show parturition problems (Dystokia and abnormal presentation) with the  subsequent reduction of number of kits, linked to excessive fatness; thus this study aims to know whether feed restriction during pregnancy have effect on carcass characteristics and meat quality of rabbit litters. The carcass and meat quality of rabbit litters whose does were restricted during pregnancy were examined for a period of sixteen weeks. A total of one hundred and eight litters of mixed breeds and sexes from rabbit does that were restricted during pregnancy were used for this study. These rabbit does were exposed to three levels of quantitative feed restriction (0, 15 and 30%) at three different periods of gestation (15-19, 20-24 and 25-29 days). At weaning three rabbits were selected from each rabbit doe which was subdivided into 4 replicates of 3 rabbits each; thus making 9 treatments groups of 12 rabbits each. All rabbit litters from each treatments were fed ad libitum throughout the experimental period. Carcass characteristics and meat quality were evaluated at the end of sixteen weeks of age.The results obtained on main effect for carcass characteristics showed that significant (p<0.05) differences were obtained on neck, chest, loin, back, lungs and liver for the levels and periods of feed restriction while other parameters measured were not significantly influenced (p>0.05). Results obtained on interaction shows that significant (p<0.05) differences were obtained on carcass weight, neck, hindlimbs, chest, loin, back, lungs, heart, liver and spleen while other parameters measured were not significantly influenced (p>0.05). Highest carcass (1294.16g) weight was obtained from growing rabbits from rabbit does on 30% restriction between 25-29 days of gestation. The result obtained on main effect and interaction on meat quality shows that all parameters measured were not significantly influenced by the treatment means (p>0.05). This result depicts that feeding levels during pregnancy did not have any effect on meat quality. In conclusion feed restriction during pregnancy resulted into higher carcass weight, dressing percentage at the end of the post weaning experiment. Feed restriction during pregnancy resulted in similar mean values for moisture, total cholesterol, pH and crude protein; thus feed restriction can be applied on pregnant does at 15% or 30% level between 20-24 days or 25-29 days of gestation as this level and period gave better carcass yield.Keywords: Growing Rabbits, restriction, carcass characteristics, and meat quality. Caracteristiques des carcasses et qualite de la viande des lapereaux issus de lapines soumises a une restriction alimentaire pendant la gestationL’effet de la restriction alimentaire et de la réalimentation pendant la gestation a été étudié pour déterminer ses répercussions sur les caractéristiques des carcasses et la qualité de la viande des lapereaux. Les jeunes lapines soumises à une alimentation ad libitum montrent souvent des problèmes de parturition (dystocie et présentation anormale) avec une réduction subséquente du nombre de lapereaux liée résultant d’un excès de graisses. Cette étude cherche donc à savoir si la restriction alimentaire pendant la gestation a un effet sur la carcasse et la qualité de la viande des lapereaux. La carcasse et la qualité de la viande des lapereaux dont les mères ont été soumises à une restriction alimentaire pendant la gestation ont été examinées pendant une période de seize semaines. Un total de cent huit lapereaux de races mixtes et des deux sexes, dont les mères avaient été soumises à une restriction alimentaire pendant la gestation, a été utilisé pour cette étude. Ces lapines avaient été exposées à trois niveaux de restriction alimentaire quantitative (0, 15 et 30%) à trois périodes de gestation différentes (15-19, 20-24 et 25-29 jours). Au sevrage, trois lapereaux ont été sélectionnés pour chaque lapine, et ont été subdivisés en 4 répétitions de 3 lapereaux chacune; constituant ainsi 9 groupes de traitements de 12 lapereaux chacun. Tous les lapereaux dans chaque traitement ont été nourris ad libitum tout au long de la période expérimentale. Les caractéristiques des carcasses et la qualité de la viande ont été évaluées à la fin des seize semaines d’âge. Les résultats obtenus à propos de l’effet principal sur les caractéristiques des carcasses ont montré des différences significatives (p <0,05) pour le cou, la poitrine, la longe, le dos, les poumons et le foie pour les niveaux et les périodes de restriction alimentaire, tandis que les autres paramètres mesurés n’étaient pas influencés de façon significative (p> 0,05). Les résultats obtenus lors de l’interaction montrent que des différences significatives (p <0,05) ont été observées sur le poids de la carcasse, le cou, les membres postérieurs, la poitrine, la longe, le dos, les poumons, le coeur, le foie et la rate, tandis que les autres paramètres mesurés n’étaient pas influencés de manière significative ((p> 0,05). Le poids de carcasse le plus élevé (1294,16 g) a été obtenu chez les lapereaux en croissance issus de lapines soumises à 30% de restriction entre 25-29 jours de gestation. Le résultat obtenu sur l’effet principal et l’interaction sur la qualité de la viande montre que tous les paramètres mesurés n’ont pas été influencés de façon significative par les moyens de traitement (p> 0,05). Ce résultat montre que les niveaux d’alimentation pendant la gestation n’ont eu aucun effet sur la qualité de la viande. En conclusion, la restriction alimentaire pendant la gestation a entraîné une augmentation du poids de la carcasse, du rendement en carcasse à la fin de l’expérience post-sevrage. La restriction alimentaire pendant la gestation a donné des valeurs moyennes semblables pour l’humidité, le cholestérol total, le pH et la protéine brute. Par conséquent, la restriction alimentaire peut être appliquée aux lapines gestantes au niveau de 15% ou 30% entre 20-24 jours ou 25-29 jours de gestation, car ce niveau et la période ont donné un meilleur rendement en carcasse. Mots-clés : lapins en croissance, restriction, caractéristiques des carcasses, qualité de la viande