Determining the hierarchical order by which intestinal tract, administered diet, and individual relay can shape the gut microbiome of fattening quails.

A bacterial metabarcoding approach was used to compare the microbiome composition of caecal and faecal samples from fattening Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) fed three different diet regimes. The tested feedstuffs included (1) a commercial diet for fattening quails, (2) a commercial diet containing 12% full-fat silkworm (Bombyx mori) pupae meal, and (3) a commercial diet containing 12% defatted silkworm pupae meal. The aim of the experiment was to verify the relative effect of three variables (diet type, gut tract comparing caecum to rectum, and individual animal) in determining the level of bacterial community dissimilarity to rank the relevance of each of the three factors in affecting and shaping community composition.

Effect of ambient temperature on the productive and carcass traits of growing rabbits divergently selected for body fat content.

Rabbits are particularly sensitive to heat stress which can affect productive performance, with rabbit breed/line possibly playing a role on the response to this condition. The study aimed at evaluating the effect of different ambient temperatures on the live performance and carcass traits of growing rabbits divergently selected for total body fat content. The two genetic lines (Lean and Fat) were selected based on the total body fat content estimated by computer tomography during five generations.

Myofibrillar protein characteristics of fast or slow frozen pork during subsequent storage at -3 °C.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of storage at -3 °C on myofibrillar protein in fast or slow frozen pork. Five pork loins at 48 h post-mortem were subjected to either fast (cold metal plate/-80 °C) or slow freezing (still air/-20 °C) followed by storage at -3 °C for 0, 1, 3, and 7 days before thawing. Freezing rate significantly influenced myofibrillar proteins within 3 days at -3 °C, evidenced by higher thaw loss, higher surface hydrophobicity and reduced water-holding of myofibrils, and accelerated appearance of a myosin-4 fragment (160 kDa) in slow freezing.

Effect of different chilling rates on the quality parameters of mule duck fatty liver.

The aim of this experiment was to study the effect of chilling rates on the quality features of fatty livers. Three different chilling rates were applied: ultra-fast (UF), fast (FA), and slow (SL). Technological and proteomic results were compared at time T1 when the internal temperature of livers reached 10°C and at time T2=24 h post mortem.

Influence of rabbit sire genetic origin, season of birth and parity order on doe and litter performance in an organic production system.

The aim of this study was to compare both the performance of litters derived from two sire genetic origins (SGO), Vienna Blue (VB) and Burgundy Fawn (BF), along successive seasons of birth (SB; winter, spring, summer and autumn), and doe reproductive performance in an organic production system. A total of fifty-eight does consisting of a mixture of crosses of several medium-large size breeds at different parity order (P, 1 = nulliparous; 2 = primiparous; ≥3 = multiparous) and twelve males (6 VB and 6 BF) were housed indoors at environmental conditions that followed seasonality. An extensive reproductive rhythm was used and kits were weaned at 46±6 d of age.

Management of reproduction on small, medium and large rabbit farms: a review.

One of the main goals of small, medium and large farms is to improve the reproductive performance of rabbit does. Stocks of lower productivity can be improved by crossing with intensive breeds. A better nutritional status of both foetuses and suckling kits has a positive effect on their later productivity.

Effect of an outdoor rearing system on the welfare, growth performance, carcass and meat quality of a slow-growing rabbit population.

The effect of Outdoor or Indoor housing systems on the growth, welfare and carcass and meat quality of a local rabbit population was investigated. The slaughter age was 103±2days. Open-field tests showed an effective capacity of the Outdoor group to combat stressors.

Influence of maternal feed rationing on metabolic and contractile properties of Longissimus lumborum muscle fibres in the rabbit offspring.

Thirty hybrid female rabbits of 15 weeks of age were divided into three groups and fed for 8 weeks (until the first parturition) on one of the three following diets: "C diet" (DE=11.71MJ/kg DM) fed ad libitum; "R diet" was the C diet fed at 80% of ad libitum, "F diet" rich in fibre (24.6% vs 18.

Effect of feed rationing during post-weaning growth on meat quality, muscle energy metabolism and fibre properties of Biceps femoris muscle in the rabbit.

During the weaning period (5 weeks of age), 50 hybrid rabbits were divided at random into five groups (or blocks). Animals from the block 1 were immediately slaughtered at this age and used as initial reference. The remaining rabbits were placed in individual cages and fed the same amount of food until slaughter, but differently rationed.

The use of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy in the prediction of the chemical composition of goose fatty liver.

The use of near-infrared reflectance spectroscopy (NIRS) on a meat product is described in this report. The aim of the study was to develop calibration equations to predict the chemical composition of goose fatty liver (foie gras) with lipid contents greater than 40% of the fresh pate. Spectra of 52 foie gras samples were collected in the visible and NIR region (400 to 2,498 nm).

Effect of age, diet and sex on muscle energy metabolism and on related physicochemical traits in the rabbit.

Muscle energy metabolism and related physicochemical traits of the meat were studied in 84 Provisal hybrid rabbits of both sexes. From weaning (30 days) to 55 days of age, the rabbits were divided into 4 groups which were given ad libitum one of the following diets: H diet with high digestible energy (DE) level, L diet with low DE level, F diet with high DE level, obtained by supplementing with animal fats, and W diet with moderate DE level. The H, L and F diet were suitable for lactating does and weaning rabbits; the W diet for weaned young rabbits.

Rabbit growth, feed efficiency and body composition: Effects of recombinant porcine somatotropin.

The effects of recombinant porcine somatotropin (rpST) were studied on rabbits from INRA 1077 strain, between the ages of 70 and 90 days. Ten rabbits received a daily intramuscular rpST injection (100 mg per day per kg of live weight) and were compared with ten control rabbits. Growth rate and feed efficiency were not affected by treatment.