Large Game Meat Production and Consumption in Serbia

Abstract

Game meat has always been a part of the human diet. It is rich in protein and low in fat, and its consumption is increasing across Europe. The main objective of this paper is to enhance knowledge and understanding of large game meat production and consumption in Serbia. This study uses the official data provided by the Statistical Office of the Republic of Serbia to calculate average hunting ground size, game population density and harvest rate. Game meat production data were obtained from four large game meat processing facilities and used for calculation of game meat yield and consumption rate. Serbia has a relatively small number of hunters, yet hunting grounds are extensive, covering nearly 92.6per cent of the country's territory. Among large game species, roe deer constitute the most abundant population in Serbia. This population is characterized by medium size and density, with a relatively low harvest rate compared to other European countries. Wild boars are the most frequently hunted large game species in Serbia. Although their population density is low, it varies significantly across different hunting grounds, and the harvest rate remains high. The red deer population is comparable in size to that of neighboring countries, but has low density and a low harvest rate primarily due to ongoing population increase programs. The fallow deer population is steadily declining. Consumption rate, as well as game meat production Serbia is lower than in most European countries. A Serbian resident consumes as little as 0.120 kg of large game meat annually, accounting for just 0.3per cent of total meat consumption. These data represent the first quantitative data on game meat consumption in Serbia. Our findings suggest that there is significant potential to promote large game meat and boost its consumption in Serbia, especially considering the lower price of game meat - such as wild boars compared to domestic pork, and venison compared to beef.