Dog bites in hunted large game: a hygienic and economical problem for game meat production

Abstract

Main objectives of this study were to monitor dog bite occurrence in game meat and to evaluate the damage caused. For this purpose, a total of 526 animals were evaluated: 337 red deer (Cervus elaphus), 142 wild boar (Sus scrofa), 29 fallow deer (Dama dama), and 18 mouflon (Ovis musimon), in hunting zones located in the county Idanha-a-Nova (lat 39 degrees 55' N: long 7 degrees 14'W). A total of 100 (19.01%) of the analysed animals had suffered from dog bites. Of those, 64 were classified as level 1, 20 as level 2 (i.e. removal of affected tissues necessary) and 16 as level 3 (i.e. necessitating total rejection of the carcass). Apart from the animal welfare issue this study emphasises the hygienic, microbiological and economic relevance of this problem in the game meat production chain. The necessity of improving dog behaviour during drive hunting so as to avoid meat rejection, promote animal welfare and game meat hygiene and quality.