Meat quality of kudu ( Tragelaphus strepsiceros) and impala ( Aepyceros melampus): Carcass yield, physical quality and chemical composition of kudu and impala Longissimus dorsi muscle as affected by gender and age

The meat quality of kudu and impala was compared. Live weight and carcass weight differed between species, genders and age groups. Impala had the highest dressing percentage while kudu had the highest live weight and carcass weight. Kudu had the lowest fat content while female animals had a higher fat and myoglobin content than males. Sub-adults had a higher ash content than adults. Species, gender and age had no effect of pH, drip loss, cooking loss or tenderness although kudu had higher L∗, a∗, b∗ and chroma values than impala. Impala sub-adults had significantly higher insoluble collagen, soluble collagen, total collagen and hydroxyproline content than kudu sub-adults. Kudu had the highest potassium levels while impala had the highest phosphorus levels. Potassium, sodium, iron and copper levels also differed between species.