Thesis (PhD (Food Sc))--Stellenbosch University, 2011. / ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The wildlife industry in Namibia has shown tremendous growth over the past decades and is currently the only extensive production system in Namibia that is expanding. Harvesting game for the purpose of meat production is a viable option since there is a worldwide demand for healthy and high quality proteins. The main objective of the dissertation was to investigate selected parameters required to develop a sustainable Namibian game meat industry. The major species suitable for commercial harvesting operations are springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis – Zimmerman, 1780), gemsbok (Oryx gazella – Linnaeus, 1785), kudu (Tragelaphus strepsiceros – Pallas, 1766), mountain zebra (Equus zebra hartmannae – Linnaeus, 1758) and red hartebeest (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama – Pallas, 1766). Eland (Tragelaphus oryx – Pallas, 1766) could be considered as a suitable species, although the numbers of animals that can be harvested during an operation are limited. This study demonstrated that gender influenced live weight of springbok, kudu and red hartebeest. Gender also influenced carcass weights for springbok, gemsbok, kudu and red hartebeest, but not for eland, while dressing percentage did not differ between gender for springbok, gemsbok, kudu and red hartebeest. Although there were some statistical differences in the chemical composition of the various muscles from the different species (Mm. biceps femoris, infraspinatus, longissimus dorsi, semimembranosus, semitendinosus and supraspinatus), it is doubtful whether consumers would be able to distinguish between these. Discriminant analysis could not differentiate among the different muscle groups for springbok and gemsbok. A differentiation was, however, revealed among the various muscles for red hartebeest. During the investigation on the influence of season and gender on the carcass yields and meat quality characteristics of kudu and red hartebeest, dressing percentage was affected by season, but not by gender. Muscle colour differed significantly between seasons. Results from this study showed that male eland contained more saturated fatty acids than females, but no gender differences were observed for polyunsaturated fatty acids. Hides of gemsbok, kudu and red hartebeest contributed 6 – 7% of live weight, while the skin of springbok contributed 4 – 5% of live weight. Comparisons of offal items among species showed significant differences for all offal items, except for intestines. Retail cuts showed significant species difference for rump, topside, silverside and sinews. No significant species differences were observed for thick flank and bolo. Significant gender differences were observed for silverside. No interactions between species and gender were found for the different retail cuts from gemsbok and kudu. Microbiological counts of game meat, chilled for 6 weeks and frozen for 12 months, respectively, were found to be within acceptable limits as prescribed by the South African retail market. Differences in physico-chemical and microbiological properties were observed among salami from different game species. The springbok salami was found to be microbiologically unstable. The main characteristics observed while tasting the salami from springbok, gemsbok, kudu and zebra were a distinctive smoky, salty, pepper and salami flavour combined with a smoky, salami aroma. Game flavour did not feature as strong during the sensory analyses. Sustainable utilization of game for commercial meat production has the potential to increase earnings to beneficiaries in the wildlife sector. Results from this study contributed knowledge which can be utilized to develop the Namibian game meat industry. / AFRIKAANSE OPSOMMING: Die wildsbedryf in Namibië het die afgelope dekades buitengewone groei getoon en is huidiglik die enigste ekstensiewe produksie-sisteem wat in Namibië uitbrei. Die oes van wild is ʼn voordelige opsie, aangesien daar wêreldwyd ʼn aanvraag is na gesonde en hoë kwaliteit proteïene. Die hoofdoelwit van hierdie dissertasie was die loods van ʼn ondersoek na geselekteerde aspekte wat benodig word om die Namibiese wildsvleisbedryf te ontwikkel. Die belangrikste spesies geïdentifiseer as geskik vir kommersiële oes, is springbok (Antidorcas marsupialis – Zimmerman, 1780), gemsbok (Oryx gazella – Linnaeus, 1785), koedoe (Tragelaphus strepsiceros – Pallas, 1766), berg sebra (Equus zebra hartmannae – Linnaeus, 1758) en rooihartbees (Alcelaphus buselaphus caama – Pallas, 1766). Eland (Tragelaphus oryx – Pallas, 1766) is ook ʼn geskikte spesies, maar die hoeveelhede wat op een slag geoes kan word, is beperk. Hierdie studie het gedemonstreer dat geslag ʼn invloed op die lewendige gewig van springbok, koedoe en rooihartbees het. Geslag het ook ʼn invloed gehad op karkasgewigte van springbok, gemsbok, koedoe en rooihartbees, maar geen invloed op die karkasgewig van eland nie, terwyl uitslagpersentasie geensins geslagsverskille getoon het vir springbok, gemsbok, koedoe of rooihartbees nie. Nieteenstaande statistiese verskille in die chemiese samestelling van die verskillende spiere van die onderskeie spesies (Mm. biceps femoris, infraspinatus, longissimus dorsi, semimembranosus, semitendinosus en supraspinatus), is dit te betwyfel of verbruikers ʼn onderskeid sal kan tref tussen die spiere. Diskriminant-analise kon nie verskille uitwys tussen die verskillende groepe spiere van springbok en gemsbok nie. Verskille was egter te bespeur tussen verskillende spiere van die rooihartbees. Gedurende hierdie ondersoek is die invloed van seisoen en geslag op die karkasopbrengs en vleiskwaliteit van koedoe en rooihartbees ondersoek. Uitslagpersentasie is beïnvloed deur seisoen, maar nie deur geslag nie. Kleur het betekenisvol verskil tussen seisoene. Resultate van die studie het getoon dat elandbulle meer versadigde vetsure het as koeie, maar dat geen verskille vir geslag gevind is vir poli-onversadigde vetsure nie. Gemsbok-, koedoe - en rooihartbeesvelle het 6 – 7% bygedra tot die lewendige gewig, terwyl die vel van die springbok 4 – 5% bygedra het. Vergelykings van afvalopbrengs tussen spesies het verskille uitgewys ten opsigte van al die items, behalwe die ingewande. Kleinhandelsnitte het betekenisvolle verskille getoon vir die kruis, binneboud, dy en senings. Geen betekenisvolle spesies verskille is opgemerk vir die diklies en bolo nie. Die dy het betekenisvolle verskille tussen geslagte getoon. Geen interaksie tussen spesies en geslag is opgemerk vir die verskillende kleinhandelsnitte van gemsbok en koedoe nie. Mikrobiologiese tellings vir wildsvleis, verkoel vir 6 weke en gevries vir 12 maande, onderskeidelik, het voldoen aan die aanvaarbare vlakke soos voorgeskryf deur die Suid-Afrikaanse kleinhandelsmark. Verskille in fisiese, chemiese en mikrobiologiese kwaliteite was opgemerk vir die salami van die verskillende spesies. Springbok salami was mikrobiologies onstabiel. Die belangrikste karaktereienskappe bemerk tydens die proe van die salami vervaardig van springbok-, gemsbok- , koedoe - en sebravleis, was ʼn oorheersende rook-, sout-, peper- en salamigeur, gekombineer met ʼn rook- en salami aroma. Wildsvleisgeur het nie sterk na vore gekom tydens die sensoriese analise, nie. Die volhoubare gebruik van wild vir kommersiële vleisproduksie het die potensiaal om inkomste vir belangegroepe in die wildsektor te verhoog. Resultate van hierdie studie het kennis uitgebrei wat gebruik kan word om die wildsvleisindustrie in Namibië te ontwikkel.