Response to selection for intramuscular content and correlated responses in carcass and meat traits in rabbits

Abstract Text: A divergent selection experiment for intramuscular fat content (IMF) in Longissimus muscle (LM) was carried out during 5 generations in rabbits. Direct and correlated responses in body weight (BW), chilled carcass weight (CCW), reference carcass weight (RCW), scapular fat (SF), perirrenal fat (PF), color parameters (L*; a*, b* and DE) in carcass and LM, and LMpH were estimated as differences between lines in the fifth generation. Direct response to selection was also estimated as the mean of the genetic values in each line and generation. High line showed a response of 0.12g of IMF/100g muscle and low line showed a response of -0.11g of IMF/100g muscle. Carcass quality may be affected by selection for IMF, producing an increase in PF content. There is some evidence that selection for IMF can modify color of  both carcass and LM and also LMpH.

Keywords:

Intramuscular fat

Rabbits

Response to selection