meatTheory and practice of meat processingТеория и практика переработки мяса2414-438X2414-441XФГБНУ «Федеральный научный центр пищевых систем им. В.М. Горбатова» РАН10.21323/2414-438X-2021-6-3-255-258meat-188Research ArticleСтатьиQuality of carcasses and meat from male and female rabbitshttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1695-5939SampelsS.

 PhD, Associate professor, lecturer, Department of Molecular Sciences

Box 7015, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden

Tel.: +46-(0)18–67–20–05

sabine.sampels@slu.seSkoglundJ.

MSc, student, Department of Molecular Sciences

Box 7015, 750 07 Uppsala, Sweden

jonna_0623@hotmail.comSwedish University of Agricultural SciencesSweden20212710202163255258Copyright © Sampels S., Skoglund J., 20212021Sampels S., Skoglund J.Sampels S., Skoglund J.Данная работа распространяется под лицензией Creative Commons Attribution 4.0.This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.https://www.meatjournal.ru/jour/article/view/188

Meat from rabbits offers high nutritive properties as it has high levels of essential amino acids, minerals and vitamins. Rabbit meat is also regarded lean, since it contains less fat than many other meat types. The composition of rabbit meat lipids is also favourable due to higher contents of unsaturated fatty acids compared to other types of meat. The aim of the present study was to examine and compare meat quality from male and female rabbits. A total of 24 rabbits (12 males and 12 females) were used. The rabbits were slaughtered at an age of 17–18 weeks. The following parameters were studied: slaughter traits, colour, pH, cooking loss, tenderness, total fat content and water holding capacity (WHC). Interestingly, the ultimate pH was significantly lower in male compared to female rabbits (p = 0.008). Moreover, cooking losses were higher in the meat from male rabbits (p = 0.001). No other relevant differences were found between meat from male and female rabbits suggesting that sex might be regarded as a minor factor in the production of rabbit meat at the chosen slaughter age.

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The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest present.