Prediction of carcass composition in the rabbit

Carcass composition of two synthetic rabbit breeds was predicted from retail cuts and external measurements by using regression equations. Breed R has a higher adult weight and reaches slaughter weight 1 week before breed V. Sixty rabbits of each breed were slaughtered when they (approximately) reached the Spanish commercial liveweight of 2kg. The carcasses were measured and retailed according to the norms of the World Rabbit Scientific Association. Rabbit carcass composition is well defined by meat percentage of the commercial carcass and ratio meat bone . External measurements on the carcass, retail cuts and meat of retail cuts or muscular masses are all bad predictors of carcass meat percentage or ratio meat bone (R(2) < 0.53). The ratio meat bone of the hind leg can give reasonable predictions for carcass meat percentage and meat bone ratio (R(2) = 0.60 and 0.69). Dissectible carcass fat weight and dissectible carcass fat percentage can be predicted by the perirenal fat weight (R(2) = 0.77 and 0.69). Fat depots had a low predictive power for fat percentage of the dissected meat in the half carcass.