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Keywords
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Abstract
Objective: To determine the interrelationships between morphological characteristics in live rabbits and carcass traits, particularly loin and leg, which are the most economically valuable parts of the carcass.
Design/Methodology/Approach: This study used the Multivariate Canonical Correlation Analysis (CCA) methodology. Data from 139 New Zealand and California rabbits of both sexes, weaned at 35 days of age and raised in a fattening process to 73 days, were used. Morphological measurements were taken before and after slaughter. The measurements were divided into two subsets: Set X (Carcass): Hot carcass weight, loin weight, leg weight, loin width, loin length, leg length (considered as predictor variables). Set Y (Live): Live weight, loin width, loin length, leg circumference, leg length. No differences were found between breeds and sexes (p>0.05), so the analysis was performed overall.
Results: The results of the ACC showed a strong association between the morphological characteristics measured in the live ANIMAL and those measured in the cut-up CANAL (rc=0.85), which evidenced the relevance of the ACC. Live weight and leg perimeter were the factors most related to the important characteristics of the carcass (Loin and legs).
Limitations on study/implications: The selection of breeding stock is traditionally based on the visual evaluation of phenotypic characteristics, which can be subjective and limit genetic progress. The proposal of this study is to consider an indirect selection, evaluating characteristics of the live animal that correlate with the characteristics of greatest economic value of the carcass.
Findings/conclusions: The results show that indirect selection of rabbits can be an effective strategy to select future breeders, obtaining better results