Effect of rearing system (free-range vs cage) on gut and muscle histomorphology and microbial loads of Italian White breed rabbits
Objective The growing consumers’ interest on animal welfare has raised the request of products obtained by alternative rearing systems. The present study was conducted to assess the influence of housing system on gut and muscle morphology and on microbial load in rabbits reared under free-range (FR)...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies
2024-01-01
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| Series: | Animal Bioscience |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.animbiosci.org/upload/pdf/ab-23-0203.pdf |
| _version_ | 1797367781748899840 |
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| author | Caterina Losacco Antonella Tinelli Angela Dambrosio Nicoletta C. Quaglia Letizia Passantino Michele Schiavitto Giuseppe Passantino Vito Laudadio Nicola Zizzo Vincenzo Tufarelli |
| author_facet | Caterina Losacco Antonella Tinelli Angela Dambrosio Nicoletta C. Quaglia Letizia Passantino Michele Schiavitto Giuseppe Passantino Vito Laudadio Nicola Zizzo Vincenzo Tufarelli |
| author_sort | Caterina Losacco |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Objective The growing consumers’ interest on animal welfare has raised the request of products obtained by alternative rearing systems. The present study was conducted to assess the influence of housing system on gut and muscle morphology and on microbial load in rabbits reared under free-range (FR) and cage system (CS). Methods A total of forty weaned (35 days of age) male Italian White breed rabbits were allotted according to the rearing system, and at 91 days of age were randomly selected and slaughtered for the morphological evaluation of tissue from duodenum and longissimus lumborum. Morphometric analysis of the villus height, villus width, crypt depth, villus height/crypt depth ratio, and villus surface was performed. The microbial loads on hind muscle was determined by total mesophilic aerobic count (TMAC), Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae; whereas, total anaerobic bacteria count (TABC) and TMAC, E. coli and Enterobacteriaceae was determined on caecal content. Results Rearing system did not interfere with the duodenum and muscle histomorphology in both rabbit groups. Similarly, microbial load of caecal content showed no significant differences on the TABC and TMAC. Conversely, significant difference was found for E. coli strains in caecal content, with the lower counts in FR compared to CS rabbits (p<0.01). Microbiological assay of muscle revealed significant lower TMAC in FR vs CS rabbits (p< 0.05). All rabbit meat samples were negative for E. Coli and Enterobacteriaceae. Conclusion Free-range could be considered a possible alternative and sustainable rearing system in rabbits to preserve gut environment and muscle quality. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:22:06Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-c4e7d504167e47669a79103e6a5d7a6c |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2765-0189 2765-0235 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-08T17:22:06Z |
| publishDate | 2024-01-01 |
| publisher | Asian-Australasian Association of Animal Production Societies |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Animal Bioscience |
| spelling | doaj.art-c4e7d504167e47669a79103e6a5d7a6c2024-01-03T04:36:57ZengAsian-Australasian Association of Animal Production SocietiesAnimal Bioscience2765-01892765-02352024-01-0137115116010.5713/ab.23.020325096Effect of rearing system (free-range vs cage) on gut and muscle histomorphology and microbial loads of Italian White breed rabbitsCaterina Losacco0Antonella Tinelli1Angela Dambrosio2Nicoletta C. Quaglia3Letizia Passantino4Michele Schiavitto5Giuseppe Passantino6Vito Laudadio7Nicola Zizzo8Vincenzo Tufarelli9 Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Jonian Area, Section of Veterinary Science and Animal Production, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Study of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Study of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Study of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Jonian Area, Section of Veterinary Science and Animal Production, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy Italian Rabbit Breeders Association (ANCI-AIA), 71030 Volturara Appula, Foggia, Italy Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Study of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Jonian Area, Section of Veterinary Science and Animal Production, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Study of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, Italy Department of Precision and Regenerative Medicine and Jonian Area, Section of Veterinary Science and Animal Production, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70010 Valenzano, Bari, ItalyObjective The growing consumers’ interest on animal welfare has raised the request of products obtained by alternative rearing systems. The present study was conducted to assess the influence of housing system on gut and muscle morphology and on microbial load in rabbits reared under free-range (FR) and cage system (CS). Methods A total of forty weaned (35 days of age) male Italian White breed rabbits were allotted according to the rearing system, and at 91 days of age were randomly selected and slaughtered for the morphological evaluation of tissue from duodenum and longissimus lumborum. Morphometric analysis of the villus height, villus width, crypt depth, villus height/crypt depth ratio, and villus surface was performed. The microbial loads on hind muscle was determined by total mesophilic aerobic count (TMAC), Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae; whereas, total anaerobic bacteria count (TABC) and TMAC, E. coli and Enterobacteriaceae was determined on caecal content. Results Rearing system did not interfere with the duodenum and muscle histomorphology in both rabbit groups. Similarly, microbial load of caecal content showed no significant differences on the TABC and TMAC. Conversely, significant difference was found for E. coli strains in caecal content, with the lower counts in FR compared to CS rabbits (p<0.01). Microbiological assay of muscle revealed significant lower TMAC in FR vs CS rabbits (p< 0.05). All rabbit meat samples were negative for E. Coli and Enterobacteriaceae. Conclusion Free-range could be considered a possible alternative and sustainable rearing system in rabbits to preserve gut environment and muscle quality.http://www.animbiosci.org/upload/pdf/ab-23-0203.pdfgutmicrobial sheddingmorphologymusclerabbitrearing system |
| spellingShingle | Caterina Losacco Antonella Tinelli Angela Dambrosio Nicoletta C. Quaglia Letizia Passantino Michele Schiavitto Giuseppe Passantino Vito Laudadio Nicola Zizzo Vincenzo Tufarelli Effect of rearing system (free-range vs cage) on gut and muscle histomorphology and microbial loads of Italian White breed rabbits Animal Bioscience gut microbial shedding morphology muscle rabbit rearing system |
| title | Effect of rearing system (free-range vs cage) on gut and muscle histomorphology and microbial loads of Italian White breed rabbits |
| title_full | Effect of rearing system (free-range vs cage) on gut and muscle histomorphology and microbial loads of Italian White breed rabbits |
| title_fullStr | Effect of rearing system (free-range vs cage) on gut and muscle histomorphology and microbial loads of Italian White breed rabbits |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effect of rearing system (free-range vs cage) on gut and muscle histomorphology and microbial loads of Italian White breed rabbits |
| title_short | Effect of rearing system (free-range vs cage) on gut and muscle histomorphology and microbial loads of Italian White breed rabbits |
| title_sort | effect of rearing system free range vs cage on gut and muscle histomorphology and microbial loads of italian white breed rabbits |
| topic | gut microbial shedding morphology muscle rabbit rearing system |
| url | http://www.animbiosci.org/upload/pdf/ab-23-0203.pdf |
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