Seasonal Variation in the Body Composition, Carcass Composition, and Offal Quality in the Wild Fallow Deer (Dama dama L.)

Simple Summary Game meat popularity is connected with the fact that harvesting game is part of the sustainable management of game species. As hunted animals grow in their natural environments-with access to natural forage, exercise, and unlimited possibilities to perform natural behaviors-consumers are enabled to think about game meat as a healthy product, obtained from animals that grew in welfare-friendly conditions. On the other hand, the popularity of using offal (including those from game species) in dishes or processed products is lower compared to muscle tissue and differs among cultures and regions. Nevertheless, we should remember that offal is a nutritional and valuable animal product, and its use allows us to limit the amounts of utilized by-products, and therefore should also be considered from the perspective of sustainability in the meat production chain and its environmental effects. The goal of this study was to examine the seasonal variation in the body composition, carcass composition, and quality of edible internal organs from the fallow deer hunt-harvested in the summer (n = 9) and the winter (n = 10) seasons. The weight and proportion of the mesenteric and omental fat were greater for the animals harvested in the winter (1.12 kg and 2.75%) compared to those from the summer season (0.43 kg and 1.02%). The winter-harvested animals had more perinephric fat (0.75 kg and 1.84%) than those hunted in summer (0.26 kg and 1.84%). The gastrointestinal tract of the fallow deer hunted in summer was more filled with feed and therefore heavier (7.92 kg) compared to those from the winter season (5.16 kg). The proportion of fat was significantly greater in the carcasses obtained in winter compared to the summer season (6.55% vs. 3.79%). No seasonal variety was found in the physicochemical characteristics of the edible offal, but the content of extractable fat was significantly affected by the season. In conclusion, the effect of the season on the slaughter value of the hunt-harvested fallow deer was limited to a variation in the proportion of some of the internal organs and affected the fat deposition in the body of the examined animals. The season significantly affected the fat content in the carcass and the extractable fat content in the examined offal.

Automated summary

The popularity of game meat is related to the sustainable management of game species. Game meat is seen as a healthy product obtained from animals that grew in welfare-friendly conditions. However, the popularity of offal from game species in dishes or processed products is lower than muscle tissue and varies among cultures and regions. This study aimed to examine the seasonal variation in body composition, carcass composition, and quality of edible internal organs of fallow deer. The results showed that winter-harvested animals had higher fat content than those harvested in summer. The gastrointestinal tract of summer-harvested deer was more filled with food compared to winter-harvested ones. The season also affected the fat content in the carcass and extractable fat content in the examined offal.