Abstract
The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of season and sex on the meat and subcutaneous fat quality of wild boars (Sus scrofa leucomystax). The contents of moisture and crude fat of M. longissimus thoracis (LT) were higher in hunting season than that in nonhunting season (P < 0.05). The content of crude protein were lower in hunting season than nonhunting season (P < 0.05). The crude fat contents were below 1% in all the muscles investigated. The concentration of α-tocopherol in LT and M. biceps femoris were higher in hunting season and in male than those in nonhunting seson (P < 0.01) and in female (P < 0.05). A color of the wild boar meat was red or deep red shade. The oxymyoglobin transformed into metmyoglobin within 24hours. The subcutaneous fat thickness (cm) in hunting season was higher than that in nonhunting season (P < 0.01). The inner layer subcutaneous fat in nonhunting season had significantly higher proportions of C14 : 0, C16 : 0, C18 : 0, C18 : 3 and saturated fatty acids than those in hunting season (P < 0.05). The inner layer subcutaneous fat in hunting season had significantly higher proportions of C18 : 1 and mono unsaturated fatty acids (including C18 : 1) than those in nonhunting season (P < 0.01). The difference in the elements of meat was thought to be influenced by food or environment. The results showed that the wild boar meat and subcutaneous fat quality was influenced by season and sex.
