ABSTRACT:The current study aimed to investigate the effect of increasing feed
frequency as a managerial method for both males and females’ California rabbits on
growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality. Thirty-six males and
Thirty-six females of six-week-old were used. Both males and females were divided into
three treatments. The first treatment (once) feed was offered once a day at 8 am second
treatment (twice) feed was offered twice a day 8 am and 4 pm and third treatment (thrice)
feed was offered three times a day at 6 am 12 pm and 6 pm. Growth performance
measurements were recorded daily (Feed intake, body weight, daily gain and feed
conversion ratio). At the end of experiment (8 weeks) all rabbits (males and females)
were slaughtered after 8 hours of fasting. Carcass weight, carcass parts and individual
muscles weight were recorded. The current study showed that, feed frequency
significantly (P<0.001) improved feed intake in both males and females. Subsequently,
increasing number of feeding increased (P<0.01) final weight, total gain and average daily
gain, without any effect on feed conversion ratio in both males and females. Moreover,
increased body weight of males and females fed more than one time a day resulted in an
increase (P<0.01) in carcass weight and carcass parts. In addition, increased feed
frequency decreased (P<0.05) carcass’s fat. The current study showed that increasing
feed frequency in both males and females improved rabbits’ performance, carcass
characteristics and meat quality.