Non-ruminantsFull-length research article Carcass and meat quality of rabbits fed Tithonia tubaeformis weed ABSTRACT -The objective of this study was to use different parts of the Tithonia tubaeformis plant in feed for fattening rabbits and then observe the effects on carcass and meat quality. Forty-eight weaned rabbits (35 days of age) were randomly assigned to four groups (n = 12 by treatment). Animals were fed ad libitum a control diet as well as three experimental diets, with addition of Tithonia tubaeformis leaves, whole plant, and stems. Rabbits were slaughtered after 63 days of age without fasting. Results indicate that live weight (0.917), skin (0.79), feet (6.679), and lumbar circumference of the carcass (0.707) have higher positive correlations with hot carcass. There were no significant differences between treatments for all variables measured, except for kidneys and kidney fat. pH and color values were different among treatments. The results indicate that Tithonia tubaeformis leaves or the whole plant could be added to feed for growing rabbits.

Fattening commercial feed cost for rabbits in Mexico is high, the reduction of its cost without affecting the production parameters, the quality of the carcass and meat is of great interest for the agricultural industry. It has been proposed the use of supplements that provide the necessary energy requirements in the fattening of rabbits, among which we can mention the cookie waste, which can be a source of energy to replace conventional food and thus reduce costs. In this work, we intended to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of cookie waste over the productive parameters, the quality of the carcass and rabbit meat. 8 Nueva Zelanda rabbits were used distributed completely randomly in two treatments, the control and the experimental one (cookie waste). The results obtained showed that the use of biscuit waste on fattening feeding for rabbits did not affect the productive parameters, quality of the carcass and meat (p> 0.05), which suggests that it is a viable option for rabbit production, as well as a cheaper option.Supplements, Agroindustrial by-products, rabbit production. RESUMEN El costo de los alimentos comerciales para la engorda de conejos en México es alto, y disminuirlos sin afectar los parámetros productivos, la calidad de la canal y de la carne es de gran interés para la industria agropecuaria. Se ha propuesto el uso de suplementos que provean los requerimientos energéticos necesarios en la engorda de conejos, entre los que podemos mencionar el desperdicio de galleta, la cual puede ser una fuente de energía que sustituya a los alimentos convencionales y de esta manera aminorar los costos. En este trabajo, se pretende evaluar el efecto de la inclusión de desperdicio de galleta sobre los parámetros productivos, la calidad de la canal y de la carne de conejos. Se usaron 8 conejos de la raza Nueva Zelanda distribuidos completamente al azar en dos tratamientos, el control y el experimental (con desperdicio de galleta). Los resultados obtenidos demostraron que el uso del desperdicio de galleta en la alimentación de conejos en engorda, no afectó los parámetros productivos, calidad de la canal y de la carne (p>0.05), lo que sugiere que es una opción viable para la producción en conejos, debido a que no altera los parámetros productivos y la calidad de carne y la canal, además de ser una opción más económica. Suplementos, Subproductos agroindustriales, Producción cunícola.

Rabbit meat usage in processed products is low. However, rabbit meat raw sausage can be an alternative to increase this meat’s market share. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of blending textured soybean protein and rabbit meat on the texture profile analysis and sensory properties of the chorizo. Five treatments were designed, one control and another four using blends of rabbit meat and textured soybean in ratios of 10, 20, 30 and 40%. Measurements were water activity, texture profile analysis, and color, while a sensory test was conducted at the end of experiments for four treatments. The main results indicate that Aw and pH values decreased (p< 0.05), while b* value increased with storage time (p<0.05). L* value decreased after 7 d vacuum packing, but then increased after 14 d. Treatment with 20% of textured soybean results in less hardness and more springiness. Sensory analysis indicates that there is not significant difference in odor global appearance in all treatments (p>0.05), but color, hardness and taste were different (p<0.05). In conclusion, textured soybean protein can be blended with rabbit meat for processing chorizo. The meat product obtained has sensorial characteristics, a texture profile, Aw and color acceptable for this kind of raw sausage, especially in blends with 20 and 30% of textured soybean protein. Moreover, the blend of these two meat ingredients improved nutritional properties and could therefore be offering as a functional meat product.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fertility status, milk output, mortality, and body thermoregulation of rabbit does as affected by different levels of multi-enzyme extracts (EZ) in their diets. A total of 120 Hy-Plus rabbit does were divided into four comparable experimental groups (n = 30 does per group). Animals of each group were divided in six pens (five animals per pen), and each pen was used as an experimental unit. The first group was kept untreated and fed a commercial diet alone without enzyme extracts (EZ0), while the other groups were fed the same diet but supplemented with 1 (EZ1), 3 (EZ3), and 5 (EZ5) kg/ton of enzyme extracts, respectively. Feeding EZ additive increased (P < 0.05) conception and kindling rates, litter size and weight at birth, and litter size and bunny weight at weaning, with decreasing (P < 0.05) abortion rate. Moreover, total milk yield increased (P < 0.05) with increasing level of enzyme supplementation. Pre-weaning mortality decreased (P < 0.05) with EZ inclusion. Signs of vitality (rectal temperature, skin temperature, earlobe temperature, respiration rate, and pulse rate) were improved with EZ inclusion. For all results, 5 kg EZ/ton of feed was more effective than 1 and 3 kg EZ/ton feed. It can be concluded that supplementation of EZ in rabbit diet decreased mortality rate and enhanced fertility status and milk output.

Aims:To evaluate the application of spent Pleurotus ostreatus substrates, enriched or not with medicinal herbs, as a source of anti-inflammatory compounds.Subjects and Methods:P. ostreatus was cultivated on five different substrates: Barley straw (BS) and BS combined 80:20 with medicinal herbs (Chenopodium ambrosioides L. [BS/CA], Rosmarinus officinalis L. [BS/RO], Litsea glaucescens Kunth [BS/LG], and Tagetes lucida Cav. [BS/TL]). The anti-inflammatory activity of aqueous extracts of spent mushroom substrates (SMSs) (4 mg/ear) was studied using an acute inflammation model in the mouse ear induced with 2.5 μg/ear 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol13-acetate (TPA).Results:Groups treated with BS/CA, BS/RO, and BS/LG aqueous extracts exhibited the best anti-inflammatory activity (94.0% ± 5.5%, 92.9% ± 0.6%, and 90.4% ± 5.0% inhibition of auricular edema [IAO], respectively), and these effects were significantly different (P < 0.05) from that of the positive control indomethacin (0.5 mg/ear). BS/TL and BS were also able to reduce TPA-induced inflammation but to a lesser extent (70.0% ± 6.7% and 43.5% ± 6.6% IAO, respectively).Conclusions:Spent P. ostreatus substrate of BS possesses a slight anti-inflammatory effect. The addition of CA L. to mushroom substrate showed a slightly synergistic effect while RO L. had an additive effect. In addition, LG Kunth and TL Cav. enhanced the anti-inflammatory effect of SMS. However, to determine whether there is a synergistic or additive effect, it is necessary to determine the anti-inflammatory effect of each medicinal herb.