Carcass Characteristics, Physicochemical Properties and Nutritional Composition of Meat from two Wild Birds: Northern Pintail (Anas acuta) and Northern Shoveler (Spatula clypeata)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate the characteristics of the carcass, physicochemical properties as well as nutritional composition in breast and leg meat (with skin) of two different genotypes of wild birds namely: pintail (Anas acuta) and shoveler (Spatula clypeata) with regard to sex effect. The study involved forty-eight birds, 24 pintail and 24 shovelers (1:1 sex ratio) harvested during the hunting season (in September and November 2020) in lake Nasser from the Gerf-Hussein region, south Aswan Government. After the slaughter and dissection. PH, WHC and color coordinates of the breast and leg muscles were specified after 24 h of slaughter. After the dissection, breast and leg meats minced with their skin were sampled to determine cross composition, some minerals, amino acids profiles. The studied birds showed significant differences in body weight (BW), carcass weight, dressing percentage and percentages of neck and gizzard. Genotype affected the redness (a*), yellowness (b*), moisture, fat, ash and energy value of breast muscles, and also pH24, lightness (L*), redness (a*), moisture, fat, ash and energy value of leg muscles. Regardless of genotype, males showed higher body weight, carcass weight, as well as breast and leg cuts weight compared to females. The shovelers had a higher content of K, Mg, Ca, Fe and Co in breast and leg muscles compared to the pintail. While Pb and Cd exceeded maximum admissible levels which are recommended by European common regulation. Cd was detected only in breast and leg muscles from pintail. The essential amino acid content ranged from 39.73-44.45 g/100 g protein in pintails against 41.46-44.94 g/100 g protein in shovelers.