摘要
Feed restriction is a common practice to reduce post weaning digestive disorders in rabbits and to get carcasses with less fat. Hydric restriction is commonly used to induce feed restriction in growing rabbits. Two hydric restriction times （2 h and 4 h per day, continuously） were used in our trial carried in good sanitary conditions. Thirty six rabbits were divided at weaning （28 days） into three groups： R2 with restricted access to drinking water from 35 days to 80 days age of 2 h per day （from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m.）, R4： access to drinking water 4 h per day （from 8 a.m. to 12 a.m.） and T （control group） with unlimited access to drinking water. Six animals from each group were slaughtered at 80 days of age. Carcass measurements and meat quality were studied. Histological study for kidneys was carried out. Relative weight of gastrointestinal tract increases with the degree of restriction： 16.5, 18.4 and 18.9 for T, R4 and R2, respectively （P 〈 0.05）. Perirenal fat was lower in restricted groups but differences were not statically significant. Scapular fat decreases of 2/3 or 1/3 respectively with limiting access to drinking water of 2 h or 4 h per day. Compared to control group （T）, meat of restricted groups contains more water： 70.3%, 70% and 69.3% respectively for R4, R2 and T （P 〈 0.01）. The same tendency was observed for proteins： 19.2%, 19.3% and 17.7% for groups R2, R4 and T. Fat decreases in meat of restricted animals： 8.4%, 8.2% and 8.1% respectively for T, R4 and R2 （P 〈 0.05）. Water restriction induced decrease of carcass and meat adiposity. There were no differences between pH post mortem and pH ultimate （after 24 h） between the three groups. Hydric restriction does not effect on kidney histology.
