Composition, Mineral Contents and Color of Muscles of Wild Sika Deer (Cervus nippon centralis)

Abstract

The objective of this study was to evaluate meat quality of wild Sika deer (Cervus nippon centralis) by analyzing the proximate composition, minral concentrations and meat color of M. longissimus thoracis, M. semimembranosus and M. biceps femoris, and investigated the influence of sex and season on them. There was no significant difference in the composition except for crude ash of the muscles among anatomical location, between sexes and among seasons. The crude fat contents were below 1% in all muscles. Fe concentration of muscles averaged 3.8mg/100g across three locations. The contents of Na, P and K were significantly different between each location (P<0.05, P<0.01 and P<0.01, respectively). The Na contents were significantly different between sexes(P<0.05). Spectroscopy showed that surface reflectance within the visible range for M. longissimus thoracis was below 30%. Blooming completed within about 30min, and then oxymyoglobin transformed into metmyoglobin within 24h. These results showed that wild Sika deer muscles had low fat and high Fe concentration. The concentration of Na, P and K were in normal range, although significant differences were recognized. The results also showed that the meat color of Sika deer was deep red and rapidly changed into brown, whereas its blooming time was similar to those of the other domestic animals muscles.