Comparison of productive and carcass traits and economic value of lines selected for different criteria, slaughtered at similar weights

The aim of the experiment was to compare 3 genetic groups, slaughtered at similar weights, to examine their productive and carcass traits and economic value. Three lines of the Pannon Breeding Programme, selected for different criteria, were examined in the experiment. Pannon Ka (PKa, maternal line) does were inseminated with semen of PKa, Pannon White (PWhite) or Pannon Large (PLarge, terminal line) bucks. The kits (PKaxPKa, PWhitexPKa, PLargexPKa; n=60 in each genetic group) were weaned at 35 d of age and reared until 88, 83 and 79 d, respectively, when they reached similar body weights for slaughtering (2.8 kg). The weight gain of PLargexPKa was the largest (51.0 g/d) and that of PKaxPKa was the smallest (47.2 g/d), while PWhitexPKa (41.8 g/d) was intermediate (P<0.001). Difference was found in feed conversion ratio between weaning and the age of slaughter (PKaxPKa: 3.03 respect to PWhitexPKa: 2.75 and PLargexPKa: 2.66;, P<0.05). Dressing out percentage and ratio of hind part to reference carcass of PWhitexPKa, PLargexPKa and PKaxPKa were 62.4 and 37.7, 61.8 and 37.5, 61.3 and 36.8%, respectively (P<0.01). Results show that PLargexPKa rabbits were able to exceed the average economic indicators compared to other groups. It may be concluded that the production performance of growing rabbits was affected by the adult weight, but the carcass traits were influenced by the computer tomography (CT)-based selection.