Abstract
The differences between male and female deer meat were investigated in terms of meat weight and nutritional value in order to promote effective utilization of the meat of wild sika deer (Cervus nippon). The study samples were sika deer captured in Tanba district, Hyogo Prefecture, in September, November, and December, 2010. For male deer, the average body weight was 46.4 kg, the average meat weight was 16.7 kg, and the meat yield was 35.6％. Nutritionally, the meat consisted of 21.2 g of protein and 0.4 g of lipid per 100 g. For female deer, the average body weight was 36.3 kg, the average meat weight was 13.1 kg, and the meat yield was 35.7％. Nutritionally, the meat consisted of 20.5 g of protein and 0.7 g of lipid per 100 g. The female deer was smaller than the male deer, but had a higher amount of lipid. Differences in values according to season were small in both sexes. The meat weight ratio was high for rounds and shanks, and differences in the nutritional features of meat from the various body parts were small.
