The objective of present study was to evaluate the effect of one week feed restriction with two intensities on dressing out percentage, meat tenderness, cooking loss and muscle fibre characteristics in growing rabbits. Rabbits early weaned at 25 days of age (n=96) were divided into three groups: rabbits fed ad libitum (AL), rabbits restricted on 50 g of feed per rabbits per day (R50) and restricted on 65 g of feed per rabbit per day (R65). The period of trial lasted from 25 to 81 days with feed restriction realised from 32 to 39 days of age. Feed restriction did not affect dressing out percentage, loin percentage, meat tenderness and cooking loss. The significant interaction of feeding regime and age was detected in fibre cross sectional area of P R and a w fibres. Group R50 had the smaller (P^ 0.001) area of P R fibres at 39 and also at 81 days of age than R65 or AL groups. The largest (P^ 0.001) area of a W muscle fibres was observed in R65 group at 81 days of age compared to AL and R50. Fibre type distribution was not affected by feeding regime