Influence of lead shot pellets injury on meat yield of European hare (Lepus europaeus Pallas)

It is well established that game is nutritionally and physiologically valuable meat. It contains small amount (less than 4 %) of fat and connective tissue. Meat of wild animals, hunted and done properly, is healthier and more valuable than that of domestic animals. However, the quality of the game depends on many factors including the state of animal health before it was shot down, the shoot area, and how the hygiene rules of skinning and evisceration were followed. The article focuses on the use of lead shot pellets in European hares (Lepus europaeus Pallas) hunting. 22 European hares, that were shot down over the period 2009 - 2012, in Vilkaviskis and Marijampole districts were examined at ASU Game management laboratory. The research revealed that meat of a hunted European hare was frequently in poor condition. During skinning, eviscerating, portioning of hares the haematomas and hardly noticeable pieces of lead shot pellets could be found all over the body. 23 % of the examined bodies had multiple injures on shoulderblades, guts, thighs. When the cases of multiple injuries occured the waste of edible hare meat made about 69 %. Often lesions in the valuable muscles (loin and thigh) were substantialVytauto Didžiojo universitetasŽemės ūkio akademij