Comparison of semi-pastoral and intensive meat rabbit production systems in La Plata, Argentina

Steffen, Kevin Denis; Trigo, María Soledad; Darré, Magalí; Boyezuk, Diego; Cordiviola, Carlos Ángel; Arias, Rubén Omar

doi:10.15517/f01xrk70

Authors

Kevin Denis Steffen Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Departamento de Producción Animal. La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6975-9790
María Soledad Trigo Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Departamento de Producción Animal. La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Author https://orcid.org/0009-0008-4370-3837
Magalí Darré Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Departamento de Producción Animal. La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3484-6405
Diego Boyezuk Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Departamento de Producción Animal. La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4548-3670
Carlos Ángel Cordiviola Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Departamento de Producción Animal. La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6124-1807
Rubén Omar Arias Universidad Nacional de La Plata, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Forestales, Departamento de Producción Animal. La Plata, Buenos Aires, Argentina. Author https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4932-6891

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.15517/f01xrk70

Keywords:

alternative feed, barley bagasse, grape pomace, rabbit production, semi-pastoral system, circular economy

Abstract

Introduction. Agro-industrial by-products can be incorporated into local animal production systems. Objective. To compare productive performance, carcass characteristics, fat deposition, and adipose tissue colour in two rabbit production systems: a semi-pastoral system incorporating barley bagasse (BB) and grape pomace (GP), and an intensive system based on commercial pelleted feed. Materials and methods. The study was conducted in Buenos Aires, Argentina, in 2025. The chemical composition of BB and GP was characterised by proximate analysis. Twenty-four rabbits (12 per system) were evaluated. S0 combined pasture, BB, GP, and ground maize in a group mobile cage, whereas S1 used commercial pelleted feed in conventional cages. The systems also differed in housing, stocking density, weaning age, physical activity, and slaughter weight. Daily weight gain, carcass yield, visceral and interscapular fat deposition, and adipose tissue colour were evaluated. Results. S1 showed higher daily weight gain (31.05 vs. 10.94 g/d; p = 0.0001) and hot carcass yield (58.97 vs. 55.38 %; p = 0.0258). S0 showed lower absolute visceral and interscapular fat deposition (p = 0.0001). For colour, significant differences were observed in visceral fat for yellowness (b*; p = 0.0418) and lightness (L*; p = 0.0096). Conclusions. The systems differed in productive performance, carcass characteristics, fat deposition, and selected visceral fat colour attributes. Because diet and management differed simultaneously, the observed responses cannot be attributed independently to BB and GP.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

AOAC International. (1995a). Crude fibre in animal feed and pet food (Method 962.09). In J. M. Padmore (Ed.), Official methods of analysis of AOAC International (16th ed., Vol. 1, Chapter 4).

AOAC International. (1995b). Crude protein in animal feed (Kjeldahl method; Method 984.13). In J. M. Padmore (Ed.), Official methods of analysis of AOAC International (16th ed., Vol. 1, Chapter 4).

AOAC International. (1995c). Dry matter in animal feed (Method 934.01). In J. M. Padmore (Ed.), Official methods of analysis of AOAC International (16th ed., Vol. 1, Chapter 4).

Arbouche, Y., Mennani, A., Ouzzir, L., Arbouche, R., & Arbouche, F. (2021). Agro-industrial byproducts in rabbit food: case of the complex of detoxified apricot kernel cake and dehydrated tomato pulp. Veterinary World, 14(3), 744–750.

Ávila-Sánchez, H. (2019). Agricultura urbana y periurbana: reconfiguraciones territoriales y potencialidades en torno a los sistemas alimentarios urbanos. Investigaciones Geográficas, (98), 1–21.

Blasco, A., & Ouhayoun, J. (1996). Harmonization of criteria and terminology in rabbit meat research. Revised proposal. World Rabbit Science, 4(2), 93–99.

Bonaudo, T., Burlamaqui Bendahan, A., Sabatier, R., Ryschawy, J., Bellon, S., Leger, F., Magda, D., & Tichit, M. (2014). Agroecological principles for the redesign of integrated crop–livestock systems. European Journal of Agronomy, 57, 43–51.

Bordignon, F., Berton, M., Trocino, A., Zuffellato, A., Castellini, C., & Xiccato, G. (2024). Environmental impact of rabbit production: an Italian scenario. In Book of abstracts of the 13th World Rabbit Congress – WRC 2024 (pp. FE 302–FE 305). World Rabbit Science Association. https://hdl.handle.net/11577/3534349

Commission Internationale de l’Eclairage. (1976). Official recommendations on uniform colour spaces, colour differences equations and metric colour terms (Supplement No. 2, CIE Publication No. 15).

Dalle Zotte, A., Cullere, M., Sartori, A., Szendrö, Z., Kovàcs, M., Giaccone, V., & Dal Bosco, A. (2014). Dietary spirulina (Arthrospira platensis) and thyme (Thymus vulgaris) supplementation to growing rabbits: effects on raw and cooked meat quality, nutrient true retention and oxidative stability. Meat Science, 98(2), 94–103.

Daszkiewicz, T., Gugołek, A., Janiszewski, P., Kubiak, D., & Czoik, M. (2012). Effect of intensive and extensive production systems on carcass quality in New Zealand White rabbits. World Rabbit Science, 20(1), 25–32.

De Blas, C., García-Rebollar, P., Gorrachategui, M., & Mateos, G. G. (2019). Tablas FEDNA de composición y valor nutritivo de alimentos para la fabricación de piensos compuestos (4th ed.). Fundación Española para el Desarrollo de la Nutrición Animal. https://fundacionfedna.org/ingredientes-para-piensos

Derbali, H., Ben Saïd, S., Abid, K., Aroua, M., Jabri, J., Dhaouafi, J., Tissaoui, M., Malek, A., Bouzid, K., & Mahouachi, M. (2024). Valorization of dehydrated grape pomace waste as a low-cost feed additive to improve reproduction and growth performance of male rabbits. Waste and Biomass Valorization, 15, 3987–3996.

Dumont, B., Fortun-Lamothe, L., Jouven, M., Thomas, M., & Tichit, M. (2013). Prospects from agroecology and industrial ecology for animal production in the 21st century. Animal, 7(6), 1028–1043.

Fernández, H. H. (2010). Tabla de composición de alimentos para rumiantes. Sitio Argentino de Producción Animal. https://www.produccion-animal.com.ar/tablas_composicion_alimentos/46-Tabla.pdf

Maynard, L. A., Loosli, J. K., Hintz, H. F., & Warner, R. G. (1979). Animal nutrition (7th ed.). McGraw-Hill Book Company.

Motta Ferreira, W., Fraga, M. J., & Carabaño, R. (1996). Inclusion of grape pomace, in substitution for alfalfa hay, in diets for growing rabbits. Animal Science, 63(1), 167–174.

National Research Council. (2000). Nutrient requirements of beef cattle (7th rev. ed.). National Academy Press.

Oladejo, E. O., Munezero, O., Ogunkunle, N. F., Still, B., Handy, A., Adeyemo, Y. O., & Murphey, M. W. (2026). Functional effects of dietary grape by-products on rabbit health, performance, and meat quality. Animals, 16(4), Article 676.

Paci, G., Dalle Zotte, A., Cecchi, F., De Marco, M., & Schiavone, A. (2014). Effect of organic vs. conventional rearing systems on performance, carcass traits and meat quality of fast and slow growing rabbits. Animal Science Papers and Reports, 32(4), 329–338. https://hdl.handle.net/2318/149596

Roinsard, A., Van der Horst, F., Lamothe, L., Cabaret, J., Boucher, S., Roland, L., & Gidenne, T. (2016). Lapin Bio: développer une production cunicole durable en agriculture biologique. Innovations Agronomiques, 49, 231–245.

Ruiz-Ortega, M., García-y-González, E., Hernández-Ruiz, P., Pineda-Burgos, B., & Ponce-Covarrubias, J. (2022). Ingredientes alternativos en dietas de conejos en engorda: metaanálisis. Abanico Veterinario, 12, Article e2022-15.

Savietto, D., Fillon, V., Temple-Boyer-Dury, A., Derbez, F., Aymard, P., Pujol, S., Rodriguez, A., Borne, S., Simon, S., Grillot, M., Lhoste, E., Dufils, A., & Drusch, S. (2023). Design of a functional organic agroforestry system associating rabbits and apple trees. Animal - Open Space, 2, Article 100051.

Steffen, K. D., Muro, M. G., Trigo, M. S., Rodrigues-Matias, L., Cordiviola, C. A., & Arias, R. O. (2024). Inclusion of by-products of the brewing and wine industry in dairy goats. Agroindustrial Science, 14(1), 63–69.

Strychalski, J., Gugołek, A., Antoszkiewicz, Z., Fopp-Bayat, D., Kaczorek-Łukowska, E., Snarska, A., Zwierzchowski, G., Król-Grzymała, A., & Matusevičius, P. (2022). The effect of the BCO2 genotype on the expression of genes related to carotenoid, retinol, and α-tocopherol metabolism in rabbits fed a diet with Aztec marigold flower Extract. International Journal of Molecular Sciences, 23(18), Article 10552.

Weiss, W. P. (1993). Predicting energy values of feeds. Journal of Dairy Science, 76(6), 1802–1811.