Variation in Meat Quality Characteristics of Whitetail Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus) in Ohio

Abstract

Objectives Consumption of venison from whitetail deer is increasing. However, due to certain hunting practices including improper exsanguination from marksmanship failures, inadequate postmortem temperature decline, and unhygienic conditions in the designated hunting areas, there is a potential for meat quality issues in venison. Therefore, the purpose of this research was to survey venison meat quality to provide characterization data for our meat processing partners from animals harvested during firearm season. Materials and Methods Whole, boneless shoulders from 41 whitetail deer harvested from November 2015 to January 2016 were obtained from three separate venison processors. Shoulders ..