**3. Results**

#### *Mineral Profile of Rabbit Meat*

The effect of dietary supplementation with *E. faecium* CCM8558 and its EntM on mineral profile of rabbit meat is presented in Table 2. Feeding of CCM8558 strain and EntM significantly increased the phosphorus (EG1: *p* < 0.05; EG2: *p* < 0.0001) and iron concentrations (EG1, EG2: *p* < 0.001), while sodium and zinc levels were only slightly higher in experimental groups, compared with control. On the other hand, calcium (EG1, EG2: *p* < 0.001) and copper (EG1: *p* < 0.01) values significantly decreased during additives' application. The lowest calcium and the highest phosphorus level were measured in EG1.

**Table 2.** Mineral levels (mg/100 g fresh matter/muscle, means ± SD) in *Longissimus thoracis* and *lumborum* of rabbits.


a,b,c Means with a different superscript in the same row are significantly different (*p* < 0.05). EG1: experimental group 1 (*E. faecium* CCM8558 strain); EG2: experimental group 2 (enterocin M); CG: control group.

> Within microminerals, the iron content significantly increased in EG1 and EG2 (*p* < 0.01), while reduced copper level was noted in both experimental groups.

> Higher pH values (*p* < 0.01, Table 3) were noted through EntM application (EG2), compared with CG. The color measurements differed in all tested parameters: increase of lightness (EG1: *p* < 0.01, EG2: *p* < 0.05) and yellowness was noted, whereas the redness was decreased. No significant differences were found in protein, lipid, energy, ash, and water contents during additives' administration.

**Table 3.** Physicochemical properties of *Longissimus thoracis* and *lumborum* of rabbits (means ± SD).


a,b Means with a different superscript in the same row are significantly different (*p* < 0.05). EG1: experimental group 1 (*E. faecium* CCM8558 strain); EG2: experimental group 2 (enterocin M); CG: control group.
