[Inspection of "christmass rabbits" (author's transl)]

403 "Christmass rabbits" slaughtered in a public slaughter-house were inspected. The average age of the rabbits was eleven months, the average weight being 4.3 kg. (Rabbits raised for commercial purposes are slaughtered when they are approximately three months and weigh 2.5 kg.). Pathological changes were observed in 34 per cent of the animals after slaughter; these changes were mainly due to parasites. Of all rabbits which were inspected, 77 per cent were passed for food; 13 per cent were only passed after some parts of the animals had been removed (mainly livers showing coccidiosis); 8 per cent were conditionally admitted and 2 per cent were condemned. Moreover, 120 traditionally raised rabbits and 120 rabbits raised for commercial purposes were examined for the presence of Salmonella in the faeces and the wall of the rectum. No Salmonella organisms were detected.