RT Journal Article
T1 Consumer perception of supplementing rabbit diets with seaweed to reduce antibiotic use in rabbit production in Spain
A1 Al-Soufi, Sabela
A1 Vivero-Saavedra, Carlota
A1 Pernas, Ana María
A1 Miranda Castañón, Marta Inés
A1 López Alonso, María Marta
K1 Rabbit meat
K1 Seaweed
K1 Antibiotics
K1 Consumer perception
K1 Willingness to consume
AB Rabbit meat consumption has gradually decreased in Spain and rabbit production systems face some challenges related to high mortalities caused by gastrointestinal diseases, which are difficult to control owing to limitations on antibiotic use. The inclusion of seaweeds in the rabbit diet as prebiotics can potentially reduce the need to use antibiotics, as already observed in other types of livestock. The aim of this survey was to study the rabbit meat and seaweed consumption habits of the population of a municipality in Galicia (NW Spain) and the willingness of the population to choose seaweed-fed rabbit meat over other rabbit meat, to determine whether this new product would be accepted by consumers. Rabbit meat consumption, despite being minoritarian, is more frequent in the surveyed population compared to other regions in Spain, and great importance is attached to home-produced rabbit meat. Most respondents have a positive image of rabbit meat and highlighted its nutritional value. The acceptability of seaweed-fed rabbit meat was high, as two thirds of the respondents stated that they would choose this product over other types of rabbit meat. Most respondents agreed about the environmental benefits of this feeding strategy, highlighting the reduction in antibiotic use and the higher quality of the product as benefits. Nevertheless, this strategy should be properly communicated, to guarantee its success in attracting environmentally concerned consumers.
PB Universitat Politècnica de València
SN 1989-8886
YR 2024
FD 2024-06-28
LK https://hdl.handle.net/10347/38005
UL https://hdl.handle.net/10347/38005
LA eng
NO Al-Soufi S., Vivero-Saavedra C., Pernas A.M., Miranda M., López-Alonso M. 2024. Consumer perception of supplementing rabbit diets with seaweed to reduce antibiotic use in rabbit production in Spain. World Rabbit Sci., 32: 129-143. https://doi.org/10.4995/wrs.2024.21157
NO This research was carried out within the innovation project TIRAC, co-financed by 80% by the European Agricultural Fund for Rural Development (EAFRD) of the European Union and by 20% by the Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food, within the framework of the National Rural Development Programme 2014–2020. The General Directorate for Rural Development, Innovation and Agrifood Training (DGDRIFA) is the authority in charge of applying this aid. Budget: EUR 492,580.38. Total grant: EUR 485,043.58. Funding number: 2020-PN216 (O00000226e2000044671). Sabela Al-Soufi, Marta Miranda and Marta López-Alonso belong to “Grupo de Potencial Crecimiento” financed by GAIN (Axencia Galega de Innovación) (grant number ED431B 2023/008).
DS Minerva
RD 27 abr 2026