Marta Vispi

Consumer demand for sustainable and animal-friendly systems has driven interest in alternative livestock management; however, its impact on productive performance and meat quality requires further validation. This study monitored outdoor-reared rabbits during the spring and autumn seasons over a 48 d experimental period, comparing this alternative system to cage-reared rabbits slaughtered at a fixed age (80 d). Forage and energy intakes were evaluated alongside a post-slaughter analysis of muscle lipid content, fatty acid profiles, and tocopherol deposition. Meat oxidative stability was assessed by measuring thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS). Data were analyzed using mixed linear models and Principal Component Analysis (PCA). The results demonstrate that pasture-based rabbit systems offer a suitable alternative to conventional cages. Although pasture access significantly reduced growth performance, with average daily gain dropping by up to 7.24 g/day and digestible energy intake decreasing by approximately 6.20 MJ in autumn-reared rabbits, it enhanced meat quality by yielding leaner muscle profiles and higher levels of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Furthermore, although pasture-based systems are widely reported to increase physical activity—potentially elevating metabolic rate and oxidative load—the concurrent intake of natural antioxidants from fresh forage effectively maintained high oxidative stability in meat. Ultimately, these findings validate pasture-based systems as a viable approach to delivering high-quality meat within sustainable, welfare-friendly production frameworks.

Over the years, poultry supply chains have prioritized highly productive genetic lines to meet consumer demand, often at the expense of meat quality, animal welfare, and animal health. Recently, however, industry trends have shifted toward a greater awareness of welfare, reduced farming intensity, and improved product quality. In response, the European Chicken Commitment (ECC) has advocated for the use of slower-growing genotypes, even within conventional production systems. This study aimed to evaluate the meat quality of two ECC-approved chicken genotypes with differing growth rates—slow-growing (SG: 30–40 g/day, Kabir) and medium-growing (MG: 40–50 g/day, Ranger Gold) in comparison with a fast-growing strain (FG: >65 g/day, Ross 308). A total of 300 chickens were assigned to two experimental conditions: a control group (C), with spontaneous activity, and a treatment group (M), subjected to induced moderate kinetic activity. The results demonstrated that genotype influenced the meat quality of chickens raised indoors more significantly than kinetic activity. Comparisons revealed that SG and MG chickens exhibited superior meat quality, particularly regarding protein content, oxidative status, and a more suitable fatty acid profile. Overall, our findings support the adoption of ECC-approved genotypes in indoor systems to simultaneously improve animal welfare and enhance the nutritional and technological quality of poultry meat.