Abstract
Red deer (Cervus elaphus) hinds () of identical initial body weight (BW, ca. 68 kg) were reared on a monocotyledonous grass (G group), on a grass–papilionaceous (GP group) or on pure papilionaceous pasture each of 2 ha (P group) for 219 d. At the end of the experiment carcass tissue composition was assessed by means of computer tomography, slaughter value and meat quality were characterized and tissue – longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL), thigh and liver – samples were taken for fatty acid composition analysis. The primary aim was to assess nutrition-driven differences.Hinds of group P provided higher final BW (101 kg vs. 90 and 91.9 kg in groups G and GP, respectively) and higher BW gain (32.6 kg during the total period vs. 22.4 and 22.1 kg). The carcass weight exceeded those of the other groups significantly (68.8 kg vs. 59.3 and 63.2 kg), while there was no difference among groups in the perirenal fat weight and red color tone () of the LTL. Groups G and P differed significantly in the LTL weight (highest in P), its dripping loss (lowest in G), lightness (L; highest in P) and yellow color tone ().In the thigh muscle, LTL and liver the highest proportion of fatty acid CLA9c11t was reached on the G pasture, and the same trend was true for docosahexaenoic acid (DHA , C22:6 n3) in the muscles. The n6 n3 fatty acid ratio was the highest on the P pasture in the liver and both muscles. The liver incorporated the highest proportion of linoleic acid (C18:2 n6) and converted it rather effectively to arachidonic acid (C20:4 n6), coupled with the lowest -linolenic acid presence.In conclusion, concerning muscle mass production, group P proved to be the most advantageous pasture; meanwhile LTL meat quality factors (dripping loss, DHA proportion, pH, color) were more favorable on the G pasture.
Highlights
Red deer (Cervus elaphus) is the most important big game of Hungary due to its imposing meat; farmed gamekeeping is quickly spreading
Though larger differences were present in the feed coenological composition (Table 1), the feed fatty acid composition was moderately different among pastures (Table 2)
The n6 PUFA proportion was the highest in the P diet, exceeding both the G and the grass– papilionaceae (GP); the n3 PUFA proportion was rather high in all diets (> 50 %) with the G and the GP over 55 %
Summary
Red deer (Cervus elaphus) is the most important big game of Hungary due to its imposing meat; farmed gamekeeping is quickly spreading. In Hungary, wild living red deer are exposed to drastically changing seasonal variations; the spring–summer diet consists of green plants and leaves of high nutritional value. To compensate for the winter, the long mid-summer (a strong burden in Hungary) and nutritionally rather challenging feed shortages, additional feeding is applied for farmed and even wild herds, with questionable efficacy. Venison, possessing special quality characteristics, is further influenced by multiple factors such as season and nutrition (gender, reproductive stage and age). Wiklund et al (2010) provided evidence for marked seasonal variation in pH, water holding capacity and calpain activity in European red deer meat The concept of a seasonal component was first shown by French et al (1956) and it was primarily attributed to the photoperiod and feed intake. Wiklund et al (2010) provided evidence for marked seasonal variation in pH, water holding capacity and calpain activity in European red deer meat
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