Meat quality of roe deer and wild boars under the influence of mating period

The meat quality of wild game that is free is influenced by endogenous and exogenous factors which are difficult to register. The seasonally limited rutting season shows better results. In this study, the meat quality of 114 roe deer and 105 wild boars from the south-eastern part of Brandenburg was analysed. 27,2 per cent of roe deer and 32,4 per cent of wild boars were shot during mating period. The characterisation of the meat quality was performed by determining the pH-value, the water-binding capacity and the amount of residual blood of roe deer in the M. semimembranosus and M. longus colli and of wild boars in the M. semimembranosus, M. pectoralis and M. longus colli. In the study, the pH-values in the M. semimembranosus (5,66) and M. longus colli (5,95) of roe deer shot during the mating period were higher compared with game shot out of mating period (5,47 and 5,77). The water-binding capacity of roe deer shot during mating period was slightly lower in the M. semimembranosus (Q=0,66)and in the M. longus colli(Q=0,51)compared with game out of mating period (Q=0,68 and 0,52). But these differences were not relevant. The mating period did not influence the residual blood content in the examined muscles. Considering the mating period (November to February) the measured pH-value differences were irrelevant. The water-binding capacity of wild boars shot during mating period was slightly lower in the M. semimembranosus (Q=0,57) in comparison with the other wild boars (Q=0,60). There were nearly the same values in the M. Pectoralis (Q=0,51)and in the M. longus colli (Q=0,47). Analogous to roe deer the mating period did not have any influence on the residual blood content in the examined muscles.