Quality of the naturally farmed rabbit
In order to evaluate the efficiency of rabbit breeding using natural technology, it is necessary to carry out a comparative analysis of raw data collected from different farms using different breeding techniques.
We distinguish three main rabbit breeding technologies: retro-, techno-, and eco-rabbit breeding:
Retro rabbit farming is a system of rabbit breeding that is based on traditional knowledge and farming methods and is widely used in small and marginal farms.
Technological rabbit farming (techno-rabbit) is the breeding of rabbits on an industrial scale using modern technology.
Eco-rabbit farming (natural breeding) is the breeding of rabbits exclusively by natural, organic methods in order to preserve a high level of their natural immunity and to obtain products of high consumer quality.
Biological value
The main factors determining the biological value of meat include:
Amino acid composition. Meat protein consists of amino acids, and their quantity and ratio. The most valuable are essential amino acids (EAA) - those that the body cannot synthesize on its own and must get them from the diet. The more essential amino acids meat contains, the higher its biological value is.
Fat and other nutrients. In addition to proteins, meat contains fat, vitamins, minerals and other nutrients that are also important for a healthy diet.
Assessing the biological value of meat helps determine its healthiness and suitability for consumption.
Meat with a high biological value contributes to the proper growth, development, functioning and maintenance of the human body.
Analysing the data presented in Table 2, it was revealed that Eco-rabbit was superior to other experimental groups of rabbits in the content of essential amino acids. This indicates the protein value of meat of rabbits raised using eco-technology without the use of premixes and growth stimulants during fattening (Kotsubenko 2013).
In particular, eco-rabbit carcasses have the lowest cholesterol content compared to retro-rabbit and techno-rabbit. These results indicate the potential of eco-rabbit breeding and emphasise the undoubted advantages of eco-technology compared to retro-technology and techno-rabbit breeding.
Thus, the results of the study suggest that eco-technology has promise in the field of rabbit breeding and can be a balanced option for improving the quality and nutritional value of rabbit meat.