title: Effect of pre- and post-weaning dietary supplementation with Digestarom® herbal formulation on rabbit carcass traits and meat quality.
abstract: This study evaluated effects of Digestarom® (D) dietary inclusion before weaning (0-5weeks old; BW) and/or after weaning (5-12weeks old; AW) on growing rabbit carcass traits and meat quality. During BW, Pannon-Ka rabbits (does, kits) received two diets: a control diet (C) and one supplemented with 300mg Digestarom®/kg (D). At weaning, each group was divided into 3 dietary sub-groups: CC and DD received C and D diets from 5 to 12weeks of age, whereas DC was fed D from 5 to 8weeks and C from 8 to 12weeks of age (54 rabbits/group; AW). Rabbits were slaughtered at 12weeks of age. Digestarom® supplementation improved carcass yield and body mid part proportion only when administered BW. Rabbits fed D BW had higher hind leg meat cooking losses. Loin meat spiciness and rancidity increased with D both BW and AW. In conclusion, Digestarom(®) herbal formulation was ineffective in improving growing rabbit carcass traits or meat quality.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, 40, Guba S. str., H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary; Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Celia
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cullere
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, 40, Guba S. str., H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zs
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gerencsér
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, 40, Guba S. str., H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zs
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Matics
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Tasoniero
authors.affiliation: Department of Agricultural, Food and Environmental Sciences, University of Perugia, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dal Bosco
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Giaccone
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, 40, Guba S. str., H-7400 Kaposvár, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zs
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szendrő
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Agripolis, Viale dell'Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro, Padova, Italy. Electronic address: antonella.dallezotte@unipd.it.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalle Zotte
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D055598:Chemical Phenomena; D003296:Cooking; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D063427:Food Quality; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry; D011817:Rabbits; D012212:Rheology; D013649:Taste; D014886:Weaning
keywords: Feeding; Herbs; Meat quality; Sensory analysis; Spices