PECULIARITIES OF MORPHOLOGICAL COMPOSITION OF YOUNG RABBIT CARCASS DEPENDING ON GENDER AND FEEDING CONDITIONS

Abstract

The paper reflects the results of experimental studies of morphological composition of carcasses, cuts of rabbits of meat and meat-and-fell directions of productivity at the age of 120 days, grown using different diets. Small-sized compound feeds with various structure and component ratios were fed to experimental young animals. In the context of three experimental groups, extruded grain components were used; the difference between the groups was to reduce the proportion of extruded barley from 70 to 50% by weight and, accordingly, increase the proportion of soybean grain. The content of hay flour in diets of all the compared groups made 10%. It was determined that French termon rabbits within the weaning period to 120 days of age had rather high growth and development rates compared to rabbits of another breed. They also had higher slaughter and morphological indicators of carcasses, which indicates high ability to intensive growth in comparison with young animals of the Belgian arr breed. It was determined that carcasses contained more muscle tissue at 120 days of age by 16.4% in females and 13.3% in males. The proportion of muscle and fat tissue in general in carcasses increases with age.