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Abstract
The effects of sex and region on the fatty acid profile, mineral contents, collagen
and myoglobin contents of impala (Aepyceros melampus) meat were investigated. The
study was conducted in the Limpopo Province of South Africa where impala were sampled
from two separate regions. Female animals at Mara showed higher levels (P<0.05) of
saturated (SFA), and mono-unsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) in their tissues than the
male animals. The females at Musina also showed a tendency (P<0.10) towards higher
levels of SFA and MUFA than the males. Males from both regions showed higher levels
(P<0.05) of poly-unsaturated fat than the females. Myristic, palmitic and stearic
acid made up the greatest proportion of the SFA component for the males and females
from both regions. Oleic acid represented the largest component of the MUFA, with
the Mara animals showing higher levels than the Musina animals. α-linoleic, γ-linoleic,
and linolenic acid made up the largest proportions of the poly-unsaturated component
for both of the regions. Neither region nor sex had any influence on the amino acid
content of the meat. The male animals at Mara had lower (P<0.05) myoglobin contents
than the females for that region. Region had no effect on the myoglobin content of
the meat. No significant sex or regional differences were found in the hydroxyproline
and collagen contents of the meat (P>0.05). Regional differences (P<0.05) were found
in the amounts of phosphorous and calcium present in the meat. The male animals at
Mara were found to have higher levels of zinc than the females.