title: Effect of pre-slaughter environment on some physiological parameters and meat quality in New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus).
abstract: The objective of this study was to examine the effect of pre-slaughter environment on physiology and meat quality in New Zealand rabbits. Pre-slaughter environment consisted of combined effects of social and non-social factors. For the experiment, 18 male New Zealand rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus), 3 months of age, were used. Some biochemical and meat quality parameters of the animals were measured, and the results were compared with the control group. The pre-slaughter environment significantly influenced some biochemical and meat quality parameters (P < 0.01 and P < 0.05, respectively). It is concluded that pre-slaughter environment negatively affected the welfare status and decreased the meat quality in New Zealand rabbits.
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Science, College of Veterinary, Ataturk University, 25700 Aziziye, Erzurum, Turkey. nilcoban@gmail.com
authors.forename: Nilufer
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Sabuncuoglu
authors.forename: Omer
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Coban
authors.forename: Ekrem
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Lacin
authors.forename: Ziya Gokalp
authors.initials: ZG
authors.lastname: Ceylan
authors.forename: Dervis
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Asuman
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ozkan
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000822:Animal Husbandry / Q000379:methods*; D000818:Animals; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D011817:Rabbits / Q000502:physiology; D013312:Stress, Physiological