Quality and safety of meat from wild boar hunted in Molise region

Abstract

A study was carried out to evaluate meat quality traits and heavy metals content of longissimus thoracis muscle from wild boar of different estimated live weight (50, 70, 100 kg; n = 25, 24, 18, respectively), sex and hunting area of Molise region. Meat quality data were analysed by GLM, live weight and sex were the main factors, for heavy metals the hunting area was also included. Neither live weight nor sex affected pH, colour, vitamin E and total lipid. Cholesterol was tendentially affected by live weight and sex. Collagen content was affected only by sex. Lighter boars showed a higher content (p