Nutrition Value of Wild Animal Meat

Abstract

Abstract One of the most valuable foods is meat, due its nutritional value, largely determined by the essential amino acids, fatty acids, vitamins, minerals, etc. At the same time, concern needs to be given to health of consumers by used products with less calories, which can be ensured by greater variety of game animals, including also deer grown in captivity. The aim of our investigation was to compare the nutrition value of elk, wild deer, farm deer, roe deer, and wild boar that were killed during hunting in Latvia. Meat samples (m. logissimus lumborum) were collected in the autumn- winter season. The results of the conducted research suggest that game meat samples have higher protein and essential fatty acid content in comparison with domestic animals. The amount of fat in all analysed samples did not differ greatly, although the fatty acid content in wild game meat differed significantly. The fatty acid profile was used to calculate the atherogenicity index (AI), which has a positive correlation with the risk of cardiovascular disorders. The formula AI = [C12 : 0 + (C14 : 0 × 4) + C16 : 0 ] / (Total unsaturated fatty acids) was used to calculate the ratio of total saturated fatty acids, ω-6 and ω-3. Regarding the microelement content of meat there were great differences in iron and manganese concentration among animals.