Effect of feed restriction on rabbit meat quality of the Rex du Poitou(®)

Two orylag(®) rabbit genotypes, Castor and Chinchilla, feed restricted from 8 to 18 weeks of age at 130 g/d or fed ad libitum, were compared for growth, feed efficiency, carcass traits, and meat sensory characteristics. The total body electrical conductivity (ToBEC) value was also measured to predict meat quality. The feeding level was more restrictive for Castor than for Chinchilla rabbits (74% and 90%, respectively). As expected, growth, feed efficiency, carcass yield and adiposity were altered in both genotypes with feed restriction. For restricted animals, tenderness, juiciness, flavour, flouriness, stickiness and fatness were not affected by the genotype. Feed restriction only significantly decreased flouriness in the Castor genotype. Correlations between meat characteristics and sensory traits were low, and the ToBEC value was not correlated with organoleptic quality.