Seasonal variation in fatty acid composition of wild boar in Lithuania

Abstract

The aim of the present study was to investigate the fatty acid composition of wild boar meat hunted in Lithuania during different seasons of the year. Twenty four wild boars hunted during winter (January) and summer (June) hunting seasons were used in the experiment. Each sex (10 females and 10 entire males) was represented by first and second year sub-adult youngsters. Neither the hunting season nor the sex affected the intramuscular fat content in the meat of wild boar. The meat from wild boar hunted during winter season presented lower proportions of saturated (SFA) and higher proportions of polyunsaturated (PUFA) fatty acids, higher PUFA/SFA and n-6/n-3 PUFA ratios.Highlights The fatty acid composition in the meat of wild boar was determined during the two most distinctive periods of the year (January and June). The effect of hunting season on the proportions of fatty acids and lipid quality indices was evaluated.

Keywords

• fatty acids
• intramuscular fat
• year season
• wild boar
• hunting