Application Possibilities of Selection Indices in the Pannon Ka Rabbit Breed

The Pannon Ka is a synthetic breed which can be used as a maternal crossing partner in the Pannon breeding program of the University of Kaposvár, Hungary. In the present study genetic parameters of the number of kits born alive (NBA) and the litter weight at 21 days of age (LW21) were estimated, and a two trait selection index was created in order to test the possible modification of the selection process of this breed. 14465 NBA and LW21 records were collected from 3509 Pannon Ka does between 1999 and 2016 and the total number of animals in the pedigree was 5627. NBA and LW21 were analyzed jointly in a two-trait animal model which was used to estimate the variance components and to predict the breeding values. The considered fixed effects in the model were parity and year and month of kindling. The covariate factors were the number of kits after equalization and age of the kits at measurement for LW21. The random effects were permanent environmental effect and the additive genetic effect for both traits. The estimated heritability of LW21 and NBA were 0.1±0.01 and 0.06±0.01, respectively. Genetic correlation between the traits was 0.16±0.06. The created selection index had a 50-50% contribution of the measured traits. Nevertheless, the selection index scores showed stronger correlation (0.98) with NBA, than with LW21 (0.36) due to its economic importance

ORGANIC AND LOCAL FOOD MARKET – ALTERNATIVES OR COOPERATION POSSIBILITY?

The market for local and organic food is still a niche market in Hungary. Both offer consumers an alternative to the anonymous, globalized food supply chain. Yet local food and organic food seem to be overlapping and to some degree competing food concepts. The main focus is to explore the perception of Hungarian consumers towards local and organic food, using results from one research. We chose quantitative research as a method and carried out random interviews on a nationwide representative sample of 1000 respondents. Food of organic origin is considered somewhat important for 4 out of 10 respondents (38.9%), while the majority (59.8%) is neutral towards this aspect of products. At the same time, in the case of local products, origin is partially or wholly important for as much as 72.9% of the interviewees. We found it very important that 92.5% of respondents prefer to buy local foods versus imported foods (if sold at the same price), whereas the number drops to 81.3% in the case of organic foods. Our research reveals that the production and sales of local and organic foods is of very high (strategic) importance in our country as reflected in consumer needs. To that end producers, processors, traders and NGOs – in collaboration – need to create a quality product base, and a sales strategy that needs to be well communicated and reflect special characteristics

Application Possibilities of Selection Indices in the Pannon Ka Rabbit Breed

The Pannon Ka is a synthetic breed which can be used as a maternal crossing partner in the Pannon breeding program of the University of Kaposvár, Hungary. In the present study genetic parameters of the number of kits born alive (NBA) and the litter weight at 21 days of age (LW21) were estimated, and a two trait selection index was created in order to test the possible modification of the selection process of this breed. 14465 NBA and LW21 records were collected from 3509 Pannon Ka does between 1999 and 2016 and the total number of animals in the pedigree was 5627. NBA and LW21 were analyzed jointly in a two-trait animal model which was used to estimate the variance components and to predict the breeding values. The considered fixed effects in the model were parity and year and month of kindling. The covariate factors were the number of kits after equalization and age of the kits at measurement for LW21. The random effects were permanent environmental effect and the additive genetic effect for both traits. The estimated heritability of LW21 and NBA were 0.1±0.01 and 0.06±0.01, respectively. Genetic correlation between the traits was 0.16±0.06. The created selection index had a 50-50% contribution of the measured traits. Nevertheless, the selection index scores showed stronger correlation (0.98) with NBA, than with LW21 (0.36) due to its economic importance

Consumers’ Attitude to Consumption of Rabbit Meat in Eight Countries Depending on the Production Method and Its Purchase Form

The study’s aim was to investigate the consumers’ attitude to their preference of rabbit meat in eight countries depending on the production method and its purchase form. In Spain and China almost all factors got low scores. High scores (above 4 out of 5) for origin were found in Italy, France, Poland, Hungary and Brazil. The importance of feeding was highlighted in Italy, Poland, Hungary and Mexico. High values were received for housing conditions in Italy, Poland, Hungary and Mexico. The level of processing was the most important in China and Brazil, while the slaughtering method was considered the most important in Brazil and Mexico. Breed received the lowest score in almost all countries. The preference of fresh meat was the highest (above 50%) in Spain, France and Mexico, and that of frozen in Brazil and Mexico (about 20%). The highest preference for a whole carcass (above 50%) was given by the respondents in France and Mexico. Thigh was mostly preferred in France whereas consumers preferred loin in Mexico. Roasted, smoked and semi-finished forms were mostly favored in Mexico. It can be concluded that the preference of respondents depended on the country. Preferences were different among the Mediterranean countries, and also Latin American countries