title: Effect of a dietary supplementation with linseed oil and selenium to growing rabbits on their productive performances, carcass traits and fresh and cooked meat quality.
abstract: The present experiment tested a dietary supplementation with linseed oil and selenium to growing rabbits. The basal diet (B) contained 3% sunflower oil, while it was substituted with 3% linseed oil in the experimental feed (S). The selenium (Se) content of the two diets was 0.10 vs. 0.46 mg/kg. Rabbits were fed with B diet from the age of 18 days. One group was fed with the B diet until 11 weeks of age (group B), whereas the experimental groups were fed with S diet for 1, 2, 3 or 4 weeks (groups S1, S2, S3 and S4, respectively), before slaughtering (11 weeks of age). Live performance and carcass traits of rabbits, fatty acid (FA) profile and selenium content of their hind leg (HL) and Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) meat were considered in this study. In addition, the effect of two different cooking methods on the nutritional value of the enriched HL meat was also assessed. The tested dietary supplementation only minimally affected the live performance and carcass traits of rabbits. The S supplementation significantly reduced the Σ n-6 FA and increased the Σ n-3 FA of the HL meat and LTL meat, compared to the B diet (p < 0.001); thus, n-6/n-3 ratio was improved (p < 0.001). In addition, HL meat and LTL meat of S fed rabbits were significantly enriched in Se reaching a twofold increase in both meat cuts (p < 0.01). Therefore, the S supplementation improved the functional value of the rabbit meat. The heat treatment affected cooking loss, Se and vitamin E contents as well as the oxidative status of the HL meat (p < 0.001), with the different cooking methods providing different results. In addition, even if the beneficial C20:5 n-3 and C22:6 n-3 decreased with cooking, the n-6/n-3 ratio remained unaffected.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zs
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Matics
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cullere
authors.affiliation: Olivia Ltd, Lajosmizse, Hungary.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Szín
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zs
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Gerencsér
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Hungary.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Szabó
authors.affiliation: Research Institute for Animal Breeding and Nutrition, Herceghalom, Hungary.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fébel
authors.affiliation: Olivia Ltd, Lajosmizse, Hungary.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Odermatt
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Hungary.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Radnai
authors.affiliation: Department of Animal Medicine, Production and Health, University of Padova, Legnaro, Padova, Italy.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dalle Zotte
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences, Kaposvár University, Kaposvár, Hungary.
authors.forename: Zs
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Szendrő
mesh_terms: D000821:Animal Feed / Q000032:analysis; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary; D019587:Dietary Supplements; D008043:Linseed Oil / Q000737:chemistry / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D011817:Rabbits; D012643:Selenium / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D008043:Linseed Oil; D012643:Selenium
keywords: cooking procedure; dietary strategies; fatty acid profile; healthy meat; rabbits