The effect of storage conditions on the hygiene and sensory status of wild boar meat.

The aim of this study was to compare hygiene status of wild boar meat (shoulder and leg) stored up to 21days at 0°C, 7°C or 15°C. The microbial counts increased gradually in the expected sequence of increasing storage temperatures, with TVC at the end of storage ranging from approx. 2logCFU/g (0°C) to 5logCFU/g (15°C). The lactic acid bacteria and psychrotrophic microflora didn't exceed 2logCFU/g and 2.5logCFU/g, respectively. Whereas odor of the meat stored at 0°C and 7°C was still acceptable at the end of storage, the odor of the meat stored at 15°C was barely acceptable after only 7d of storage and also the content of ammonia was significantly higher. Game meat obtained from animals hunted in the correct way and stored at low temperatures had good microbiological and hygiene status which could be maintained for more than 15days of storage.

The effect of treating method of pithed pheasant on the content of biogenic amines in the meat during the course of storage.

The study monitored the effect of various methods of treating pheasant carcasses after killing on the hygienic quality of the venison. Pithed pheasants treated by evisceration (n = 60), drawing (n = 60), or left untreated (n = 60) were stored for a period of 21 d at temperatures of 0, 7, and 15°C. For determination of biogenic amines, samples of breast and thigh muscles were taken on d 1, 7, 14, and 21 after killing of the pheasants. Biogenic amines were separated by reverse-phase liquid chromatography and consequently detected by tandem mass spectrometry. The sum of determined biogenic amine concentrations (cadaverine, putrescine, histamine, tyramine, tryptamine, phenylethylamine) was compared with the value of the index for meat of high hygienic quality (5 mg/kg). At a storage temperature of 0°C, the sum of biogenic amine concentrations did not exceed the value of 5 mg/kg in either breast or thigh muscle at any time during the storage period in untreated and drawn pheasants, and for a period of 14 d in eviscerated pheasants. At a storage temperature of 7°C, values lower than the limit of 5 mg/kg were recorded throughout the storage period in untreated pheasants, for a period of 14 d of storage in drawn pheasants, and for a period of just 7 d of storage in eviscerated birds. At the highest storage temperature (15°C), a value of 5 mg/kg was exceeded in eviscerated and untreated pheasants during the course of the first week of storage, and in drawn pheasants after the first week of storage. Our results indicate that the most suitable method of treatment to ensure high hygienic quality of the meat (assessed according to concentration of biogenic amines) for the longest period during the storage of pithed pheasants is to leave the pheasant carcasses untreated, followed by the drawing, with the least suitable method being the widely recommended method of evisceration.

Alaria alata mesocercariae in wild boar (Sus scrofa, Linnaeus, 1758) in south regions of the Czech Republic.

From March 2012 to February 2013, 221 wild boar carcasses obtained from regular hunts in the Czech Republic were tested for Alaria alata mesocercariae using the Alaria-migration-technique. Most samples originated from South Moravia (173), and all 15 positive samples were found in this region, in particular in Tvrdonice (3/10) and Lanzhot (12/28), close to the site of the first description of this parasitic stage in wild boars in the territory of former CSSR. These hunting grounds are located between the rivers March and Thaya, and rich in floodplains. Among the 38 carcasses tested in this area, higher carcass weights were associated with higher frequency of positive carcasses (P<0.05). Overall frequency of positive carcasses was 15/221 (6.8%). In positive samples (adipose and glandular tissue and muscle), the median number of mesocercariae was 14.3 per 100 g (range 3-69).