OFFAL YIELDS OF SPRINGBOK, GEMSBOK, KUDU, RED HARTEBEEST AND ELAND FROM NAMIBIA (Abstract)

Diana L van Schalkwyk 1, Kenneth W McMillin 2 , R Corli Witthuhn3 and Louw C Hoffman 3

1Food Chain Solutions, Windhoek, Namibia 2Louisiana State University, Louisiana, United States 3Stellenbosch University, Stellenbosch, South Africa

INTRODUCTION

Namibia has a number of regulations that apply to the HACCP principles before export of game meat to sustainable use of game animals for commercial meat international countries are approved. Offal items from production. Food business operators have to maintain game are often discarded as it undervalued as an hygiene control procedures and measures based on alternative protein source in local and export markets.

ANIMALS, MATERIALS AND METHODS

This investigation determined the offal yields of male and harvested from the highland savannah in Namibia. female springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis), gemsbok (Oryx Animals were harvested and eviscerated according to gazella), kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros), red hartebeest standard operational procedures approved by the (Alcelaphus buselaphus) and eland (Tragelaphus oryx) Namibian Veterinary Authorities.

RESULTS

No differences were observed between male and female gemsbok. The head of male kudu contributed significantly springbok for heart, liver, kidney, spleen, lung or intestine more (5.6%) to the live weight of the male than the weights. The head and skin of springbok males were female 4.1%. Offal items contributed between 37 - 39% significantly heavier than the females when compared as a to the live weight of the kudu. The contribution of all offal percentage of the carcass weight. Offal items contributed items to the live weight of the red hartebeest was 40 – 43% to the live weight of the springbok. Male between 40 - 44%. The head of the red hartebeest did gemsbok did not differ significantly from females in the not differ with gender. Only the spleen of the eland weight of the heart, kidney, spleen, feet or hide. The differed significantly with gender. Calculated p-values weight of the lungs differed significantly for gender. Offal showed significant species differences for all offal items, items contributed 42 - 46% of the live weight of the except for intestines.

CONCLUSIONS

The investigation concluded that there would be minimal If harvested hygienically, game offal could contribute to justification for sorting and pricing of offal for commercial the economic value of the carcass. meat markets on a gender basis of weight or yield alone.