CARCASS COMPOSITION AND MEAT QUALITY OF GREY PARTRIDGE (PERDIX PERDIX L.)

The aim of the study was to determine the body weight, dressing percentage, carcass composition and physico-chemical and sensory properties of meat from grey partridge (Perdix perdix L.). At the age of 32 weeks, male and female grey partridge had similar body weight (301.4 g vs 299.5 g), carcass weight (218.2 g vs 216.0 g) and dressing percentage (72.4% vs 72.1%). Dissection analysis showed non- significant differences in carcass composition between males and females. The carcasses of males contained more leg muscles (17.4%), skin with subcutaneous fat (5.5%) and neck (3.4%), but less breast muscles (30.7%) and wings (8.8%) compared to the carcasses of females (17.0%, 5.3%, 3.3%, 31.1% and 10.7%, respectively). Compared to males, the breast muscles of females were characterized by significantly higher water holding capacity. In addition, females showed significantly (P? 0.05) lower values of lightness (L*), yellowness (b*) and tenderness of breast muscles compared to males.