The aim of the study was to evaluate differences in haematological and biochemical indicators in young rabbits of breeds embedded in the Czech genetic resources. Seven breeds (Moravian Blue, Czech Spotted, Czech Solver, Czech White, Czech Red, Moravian White of Brown Eyes and Czech Black Guard Hairs) represented by six males of each breed were used. Weaned rabbits were fattened under identical conditions till the age of 91 days. Haematological values were measured by using automatic analyzer; biochemical indicators were determined photometrically. ). Our results showed for the first time haematological and biochemical indicators in rabbits from Czech genetic resources and the results revealed that some of these variables could be affected by the rabbit genotype.

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ABSTRACT:The effect of the housing system on the carcass characteristics, physical parameters of meat quality, fatty acid composition, and muscle fibre characteristics was studied in some Czech breeds. Ninety-six rabbits from seven different breeds of Czech genetic resources (Moravian Blue, Czech White, Czech Solver, Czech Spotted, Moravian White of Brown Eye, Czech Gold, and Czech Black Guard Hair) and one rabbit commercial hybrid (Hyplus), kept in two housing systems: intensive system (wire-net cages) or alternative (straw-bedded pen), were slaughtered at the age of 91 days. Alternatively housed rabbits had lower weight at slaughter, lower weight of loin, of hind legs meat, and of renal fat than rabbits from cages. The interactions between housing system and genotype were reflected significantly in pH value, and lightness and yellowness of biceps femoris. The highest (P ≤ 0.047) pH was observed in Hyplus (6.68) from cages, while the lowest value was noted in Moravian White of Brown Eye (6.26). The significantly (P ≤ 0.010) lightest meat was detected in Czech Solver (60.93) and the darkest in Czech Gold (47.81). Alternatively reared rabbits showed significantly (P ≤ 0.001) lower monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) (26.63%) and higher (P ≤ 0.001) polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) (36.73%) contents than rabbits from cages (36.94% MUFA and 26.23% PUFA). The alternatively housed group had also higher n-3 and n-6 PUFA contents and higher PUFA : SFA ratio than the intensively housed one. Significant interactions (P ≤ 0.001) were observed in cross sectional area (CSA), diameter, and perimeter of muscle fibres of type I. The largest (P ≤ 0.001) CSA of type I muscle fibre had Czech Black Guard Hair from cages (2573.1 μm 2 ), while in pens this breed exhibited the smallest CSA (1219.6 μm 2 ), diameter (38.68 μm), and perimeter (130.2 μm). Fibre type distribution was not affected by any of the monitored parameters. The effect of interactions of the housing system and genotype was manifested mainly in physical and muscle fibre characteristics.

The aims of this study were to describe selected performance characteristics of Czech local breeds and to compare these breeds with a commercial hybrid. Seven original Czech breeds were included in the study: the giant breed Moravian Blue (MB), the medium breeds Czech White (CW), Czech Spotted (CS), Czech Solver (CSo), Moravian White of Brown Eye (MW) and the small breeds Czech Black Guard Hair (CB) and Czech Gold (CG) and the Hyplus rabbits. Growth of the rabbits was significantly (P=0.001) affected by genotype; MB and CW breeds grew non-significantly faster than Hyplus. The highest daily weight gain was observed in MB (42.6 g/d) and the lowest was in CB (23.9 g/d). Digestibility of ether extract was significantly (P=0.001) affected by genotype, with the lowest value for MB (0.823). Slaughter characteristics mostly correlated with live weight; the highest dressing-out percentage was in the small breed CG (62.0%) and the lowest in the Hyplus rabbit (57.0%). Of the biochemical traits evaluated, only cholesterol concentration was significantly (P=0.041) affected by genotype, with the highest values observed in Hyplus rabbits (4.2 mmol/L).