Identification of Muscle Tissue from Mammals

Abstract

It was found possible to differentiate the muscle tissue of fallow deer (Cervus dama) from the muscle tissues of sheep, cattle, and swine by examining the muscle lactic dehydrogenases as obtained by electrophoresis in polyacrilamide gel. This method was not suitable for differentiating between Forester kangaroo (Macropus giganteus) and Bennetts wallaby (Macropus rufogrisea) muscles, but it was found that Forester kangaroo samples could be positively identified by a hemagglutination-inhibition test. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 38(4):884-886 In all parts of the world game-law en- forcement authorities are plagued by the problem of differentiating the meat of pro- tected or semiprotected species from that of unprotected or domestic animals. In Tasmania the main difficulties arise in relation to identifying fallow deer and Forester kangaroo muscle samples. It is usual for poachers, when apprehended, to claim that the former is from sheep or cattle and the latter is from Bennetts wallaby. Over a 4-year period a number of elec- trophoretic and immunological techniques were investigated in an attempt to provide methods by which fallow deer and Forester kangaroo meats could be identified. It is not intended to bore the reader with a dis- sertation on our failures, but rather to in- dicate that by using modifications of exist- ing techniques it is possible to differentiate between a variety of meats. Valuable assistance with the work to be