engleski

EFFECTS OF ALTITUDE ON SOME QUALITY PARAMETERS IN BIG GAME MEAT

Within conducted research it has been attempted to determine to what amount altitude, ie. change of climate factors due to rise in altitude, affects change in certain quality parameters of meat in three researched species of big game (Red deer (Cervus elaphus) ; Roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) and wild boar (Sus scrofa)). Research has been conducted in altogether seven hunting grounds of central Croatia from which 3 are lowland type with average altitude below 100m, while 4 are hill and mountain type with average altitude over 200m. As part of regular shooting bag 160 specimens of Musculus biceps femoris of researched species has been collected altogether, they have been sorted out by species, sex and age. Meat quality analysis has been conducted by the Department for meat and fish technology at Faculty of food technology and biotechnology. Information on climate indicators has been taken from Meteorological and hydrological service Croatia. Preliminary results show that rise in altitude leads to increase of average amount of rainfall, decrease in mean annual temperature and increase of average number of days under the snow. Conducted analysis determined that there is a significant positive correlation between number of warm and hot days, warm nights and protein share in researched muscle in Red deer. Also in the same species there has been determined a strong negative correlation between number of cold and freezing days, number of days under the snow and precipitation and share of protein in researched meat. Positive correlation has been established between temperature and meat color in the spectrum from blue to yellow color (b*). In Roe deer it has been determined that pH values, water holding capacity and some color indicators (L* and a*) of researched meat are in positive correlation with temperature and in a negative correlation with precipitation and number of days under snow. Even though in wild boar there is order in relations of certain researched quality indicators and climate factors, significant correlation has not been recorded. Based on conducted analysis and shown results it can be concluded that increase in altitude and change in climate factors leads to change in meat quality indicators of three researched big game species, and that in some cases significant correlations in researched indicators have been recorded.

large game, altitude, game meat

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