Influence of Long-Term Freezing of Carcasses in Pre- and Post-Rigor Mortis Stages on the Technological and Nutritional Parameters of the Longissimus lumborum Muscle of Botucatu Rabbits

The aim was to assess the impact of long-term storage on the quality of Botucatu rabbit meat frozen in pre- and post-rigor stages. The stability of the technological and nutritional parameters of <i>Longissimus lumborum</i> (LL) muscle was analyzed over 12 months. In the post-rigor phase, the dorsal LL surface showed a higher level (<i>p</i> < 0.05) of redness and saturation, while the ventral surface showed a higher level (<i>p</i> < 0.05) of yellowness compared to the pre-rigor LL muscle. During storage, the redness and saturation in the LL muscle decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while the yellowness increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05) on both dorsal and ventral surfaces. In the first six months, the pre-rigor meat had a higher pH (<i>p</i> < 0.05) compared to the post-rigor meat. The fresh meat showed higher (<i>p</i> < 0.05) shear force values in the post-rigor stage. Over the 12-month study period, the lipid oxidation, myofibrillar fragmentation index, gross energy, and levels of protein, fat, and carbohydrates increased (<i>p</i> < 0.05), while the shear force, mineral content, and moisture decreased (<i>p</i> < 0.05). Thus, rigor mortis affects meat color in Botucatu rabbits. Fresh meat in the pre-rigor stage is softer, moister, and less acidic than post-rigor meat after 24 h of chilling. Long-term freezing enhances tenderness, regardless of the rigor phase at freezing, preserving its physical, chemical, and nutritional quality, with minor changes in color, lipid oxidation, and chemical composition.