Nutritional quality of wild Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus) meat: Effects of sex and hunting period.

Abstract The proximate composition, energetic value, minerals, B-group vitamins and pH value of the loin (longissimus thoracis) of 71 wild Iberian red deer (Cervus elaphus hispanicus), were evaluated in stags and hinds hunted in autumn and winter. In autumn, meat had a higher content of moisture, K, Na, Zn and thiamine when compared to winter, in which higher content of proteins and P were detected. Meat from stags had a higher moisture, Na, Zn and folic acid content, while hinds provided optimal pH values (