Physicochemical Parameters of Selected Internal Organs of Fattening Pigs and Wild Boars

Abstract

The objective of the study was to analyse selected physical properties and chemical indicators of internal organs obtained from fattening pigs and Central European wild boars (Sus scrofa scrofa). Each group consisted of 12 animals. The tongue, heart, lungs, liver and kidneys were examined for physical properties, basic chemical composition, macro- and micromineral content, and fatty acid profile. The atherogenic index (AI) and the thrombogenic index (TI) were also determined. Pig offal was found to be a rich source of protein and collagen, and to contain large amounts of potassium and sodium. Liver had a high content of iron, zinc, and manganese. Pig liver and wild boar heart were characterised by favourable PUFA /SFA ratios (above 0.4%). In addition, the content of neutral and hypocholesterolemic acids (DFA ) and hypercholesterolemic acids (OFA ) in pig offal was comparable to that in pig meat. The results presented in this study provide an extensive evaluation of the nutritional quality of pig offal, which allows an increase in the scope of its use in the food industry, among others for production of offal products, including traditional and regional products that are increasingly demanded by consumers.

Effect of Age and Sex on the Quality of Offal and Meat of the Wild Boar (Sus scrofa)

“…Unlike domestic pigs, wild boars are characterised with a greater proportion of by products in their body weight. In their study, Babicz et al [24] found that the proportion of tongue, heart, liver and kidneys in the body of 113.6-115.3 kg fatteners corresponds to 0.26%, 0.37%, 1.41% and 0.15%. On the other hand, Migdał et al [25] presented an even higher proportion of internal organs in the body weight of 110 kg fatteners, measuring 0.36-0.41% for the heart, 2.04-2.17% for the liver and 0.36-0.43% for the kidneys.…”

“…On the contrary, Drozd et al [23] found different dressed field weights of wild boars hunted in Poland: juveniles weighted 29.0 kg, yearlings weighted 48.9 kg, while the adults weighted 83.9 kg. Babicz et al [24] studied the proportion of internal organs in the dressed filed weight of wild boars (51.9-54.3 kg). These authors found a higher proportion of heart (0.79%) and kidneys (0.57%), and lower proportion of tongue (0.43%) in the body weight of wild boars, compared to our study.…”

“…Similar observations were made by other authors. According to study conducted by Babicz et al [24], the pH of wild boar internal organs (24 h postmortem) measures 5.86 in the tongue, 5.79 in the heart, 6.13 in liver, and 6.40 in kidneys. In the study of Kropiwiec et al [29], the pH in the internal organs of two genetic group of fatteners measured 5.68 and 5.83 in the tongue, 5.71 and 5.83 in the heart, 5.61 and 5.89 in the liver, 5.97 and 6.10 in the kidneys.…”

“…In their study, the meat of younger females characterised with the highest content of extractable fat measuring 2.83%. Babicz et al [24] analysed the chemical composition of the tongue, heart, liver and kidneys of wild boars. The authors obtained 14.17%, 3.05%, 7.82% and 4.84% of extractable fat, and 15.86%, 20.54%, 29.86%, 20.19% of crude protein in the mentioned organs.…”

The effect of chilled storage on the quality of meat from the feral wild boar (Sus scrofa)

“…Today, due to greater consciousness about the influence of food on human health, the interest of modern consumer in game meat is enhancing (Soriano et al 2006). The natural, slow growth of game animals and the nutrition based on natural feed results in lighter carcases, but also in the development of high quality meat (Babicz et al 2018). The acquisition of wild animals does not affect the environment, and is not related to welfare concerns like animal farming.…”