Effect of adult weight and CT-based selection on carcass traits of growing rabbits

The aim of this study was to compare the carcass traits of different genotypes. Maternal line (M; n=31; adult weight/AW/4.0-4.5kg) (selected for number of kits born alive), Pannon White (P; n=32; AW: 4.3-4.8kg), and Large type line (L, n=32; AW: 4.8-5.4kg) (P and L were selected for carcass traits based on CT/Computer tomography/data) rabbits were analysed. Rabbits were slaughtered at 11 wk of age. P rabbits showed the highest dressing out percentage (M=60.2, P=61.3 and L=61.1%, with a significant difference between groups M and P, P<0.05), the lowest ratio of fore part (M=26.0, P=25.7 and L=26.9%, differences were significant between groups M-P and L, P<0.05), and the largest ratio of the hind part (M=37.3, P=38.2 and L=37.2%, differences were significant between groups M-L and P, P<0.05) to the reference carcass. It can be concluded that carcass traits were influenced by CT-based selection.