Commercial cuts of Pantanal caiman meat according to sex/Caracterizacao dos cortes comerciais da carne de jacare-do-Pantanal em funcao do sexo

This study evaluated the yield, color, and chemical composition of commercial cuts (tail, sirloin cut, back fillet, and thigh) of Pantanal caiman meat in both sexes. The yield of tail was higher than other cuts, and the yield of females (17.0%) was higher than males (15.9%). The thigh of males had lower protein content (20.8%) compared with other cuts. Females showed a higher lipid content in the tail (2.4%) and thigh (0.8%) compared with males (1.7% and 0.4%, respectively). The tail presented the greatest content of monounsaturated fatty acids (45.2%) and higher n6/n3 ratio (4.6). Although lightness was not different among cuts or between sexes, there were differences in color. Males have more yellowish meat compared with females. Thigh and back fillet were more reddish when compared to sirloin cut and tail, regardless of sex. In conclusion, female tail meat provided greater yield and lipid content than males, and this result was statistically significant. These findings can help producers and consumers alike, better understand yield, quality, and nutritional quality of Pantanal caiman meat. Key words: Caiman crocodilusyacare, yield, chemical composition, colorimetry. Objetivando avaliar rendimento, cor e composicao quimica dos cortes comerciais (cauda, file de lombo, file de dorso e coxa) da carne do jacare-do-Pantanal nos diferentes sexos, foram processados 20 animais, sendo estes, dez femeas (3677g) e dez machos (3510g). Nao houve interacao significativa (P>0,05) entre cortes comerciais e sexo para peso dos cortes, teor de umidade e cor. O rendimento da cauda foi superior aos demais cortes, sendo o rendimento das femeas (17.0%) superior ao dos machos (15,9%). A coxa dos machos apresentou menor teor de proteina (20,8%), em relacao aos demais cortes. As femeas apresentaram maior teor de lipideos na cauda (2,4%) e na coxa (0,8%), em relacao aos machos (1,7% e 0,4%, respectivamente). A cauda apresentou maior quantidade de acidos graxos monoinsaturados (45,2%) e maior razao n6/n3 (4,6). A luminosidade nao foi diferente entre cortes e sexos. Os machos apresentaram carne com coloracao mais amarelada em relacao as femeas, e a coxa e o file de dorso tiveram cor mais avermelhada, comparadas ao file de lombo e cauda, independente do sexo. Concluiu-se que houve influencia do sexo no corte de cauda, para o teor de lipidios e rendimento, sendo que a femea apresentou rendimento e lipideos maiores que o macho. Palavras-chave: Caiman crocodilus yacare, rendimentos, com