MEAT PRODUCTIVITY OF YOUNG RABBITS OF THE NEW DOMESTIC VELIKOROSKAIA WHITE BREED

The article presents the results of studying the meat productivity of young rabbits of the new domestic breed Velikorodskaya Belaya. The work was carried out at the state breeding farm of the Federal State Budgetary Scientific Institution NIIPZK. To conduct the experiment on the control fattening of young rabbits from 45 to 120 days of age, 80 heads were selected based on the average daily live weight of their litters. The young animals were individually weighed at 45-, 60-, 77-, 90-, and 120-day of age, and the average daily (absolute) and relative gains in live weight were calculated. The results of slaughter were used to study the productivity indicators of the young animals, including live weight, carcass weight, and slaughter yield. Rabbits of the new Velikorodskaya Belaya breed grew most intensively after weaning from their mothers between 45 and 90 days of age, with an average daily growth rate of 43.2 ± 0.5 g. The growth rate decreased starting from 3 months of age, although the animals continued to increase their live weight by 120 days of age. The study of animal meat productivity has shown that it is more expedient to slaughter rabbits of the Velikorodskaya Belaya breed for meat between 77 days of age, when the slaughter weight is 51.2%, and 90 days of age, when the slaughter weight is 53.4%, and the meat has the best dietary qualities. Reducing the age of slaughter for young rabbits reduces the cost of raising them and allows for increased production growth rates.