Effect of Gender and Muscle Type on Fatty Acid Profile, Sanogenic Indices, and Instrumental and Sensory Analysis of Flemish Giant Rabbit Meat

Gabriela Frunză, Marius-Mihai Ciobanu, Otilia Cristina Murariu (), Roxana Nicoleta Rațu, Răzvan-Mihail Radu-Rusu (), Cristina Simeanu and Paul-Corneliu Boișteanu
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Gabriela Frunză: Department of Food Technologies, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences, 3 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania
Marius-Mihai Ciobanu: Department of Food Technologies, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences, 3 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania
Otilia Cristina Murariu: Department of Food Technologies, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences, 3 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania
Roxana Nicoleta Rațu: Department of Food Technologies, Faculty of Agriculture, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences, 3 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania
Răzvan-Mihail Radu-Rusu: Department of Animal Resources and Technology, Faculty of Food and Animal Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences, 8 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania
Cristina Simeanu: Department of Animal Resources and Technology, Faculty of Food and Animal Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences, 8 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania
Paul-Corneliu Boișteanu: Department of Control, Expertise and Services, Faculty of Food and Animal Sciences, “Ion Ionescu de la Brad” University of Life Sciences, 8 Mihail Sadoveanu Alley, 700489 Iasi, Romania

Agriculture, 2023, vol. 13, issue 12, 1-17

Abstract: The aim of this study was to represent quality characterization, by gender and muscle type, of rabbit meat from the Flemish Giant (FG) breed, following the fatty acid profile, sanogenic indices, and instrumental (color and texture) and sensory analysis. The biological material comprised 40 rabbits (20 females and 20 males) whose Longissimus dorsi (LD) and Semimembranosus (SM) muscles were sampled. Compared to female samples, the meat from males was more qualitative in terms of higher ratios of polyunsaturated vs. saturated fatty acids and proportions (+42%) of Essential and Desirable Fatty Acids (+21.6% EFA; +6.7% DFA). Also, the Atherogenic Index (AI) and Thrombogenic Index (TI) were better in males (−37.1% AI; −34.3% TI), as were the ratio of hypocholesterolemic/Hypercholesterolemic fatty acids (+27.8%) and the Nutritive Value Index (NVI, +11.6%). The Polyunsaturation Index (PI) was higher for females (+57.5%), with the widest differences in hind leg muscles (SM muscles), while the omega-6/omega-3 fatty acid ratio was also better (+11.3%). Female meat was more tender due to lower shear force (−6.2%… 9.3%) in both muscles. Female meat was less pigmented than that of males, while the overall sensory attributes were better scored in male samples (+3.1%… +7.1%) ( p < 0.01). The meat of males proved to be more sanogenic (richer in EFA and DFA, with a better h/H ratio and NVI, while AI and TI were lower). We would recommend slaughtering 3–4 weeks earlier in females vs. males to avoid excessive fat deposition and, consequently, the development of unfavorable sanogenic indices for consumer health.

Keywords: Flemish Giant breed rabbit; meat; fatty acids; instrumental and sensory analysis (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2023
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (1)

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