Czech J. Food Sci., X:X | DOI: 10.17221/50/2026-CJFS

Carcass traits and meat quality of the Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto)Original Paper

Peter Haščík ORCID...¹, Matúš Rajský ORCID...², Martin Fik ORCID...³, Ondřej Bučko ORCID...³, Adriana Pavelková ORCID...¹

¹ Institute of Foods Sciences, Faculty of Biotechnology and Food Sciences, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic

² Institute of Nutrition, Research Institute for Animal Production Nitra, National Agricultural and Food Centre, Lužianky, Slovak Republic

³ Institute of Animal Husbandry, Faculty of Agrobiology and Food Resources, Slovak University of Agriculture in Nitra, Nitra, Slovak Republic

The present study provides a comprehensive evaluation of carcass traits and meat quality characteristics of the Eurasian collared dove (Streptopelia decaocto), with particular emphasis on the effects of sex and muscle type on meat quality. A total of 40 adult birds (20 males and 20 females) were analysed for carcass traits, proximate composition, amino acid profile, fatty acid composition, lipid quality indices and colour characteristics. Carcass yield averaged approximately 67% and did not differ significantly between sexes (P > 0.05). Breast muscle was characterised by a high protein content [male 24.32; female 24.36 g·(100 g)^–1] and low intramuscular fat and cholesterol contents, whereas thigh meat contained higher levels of intramuscular fat and cholesterol, particularly in females (P ≤ 0.05). The amino acid profile was dominated by lysine, leucine and arginine and was characterised by a high proportion of essential amino acids. Monounsaturated fatty acids represented the predominant lipid fraction, followed by saturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids, with oleic acid being the major fatty acid. The PUFA/SFA ratio ranged from 0.42 to 0.49, while atherogenic and thrombogenic indices remained low (AI: 0.40–0.42; TI: 0.78–0.82). Colour analysis revealed lower lightness values in breast meat than in thigh meat, indicating a darker appearance of the breast meat. Overall, the results indicate that S. decaocto meat is a lean source of high-quality protein with favourable nutritional characteristics comparable to those reported for other members of the Columbidae family.

Keywords: columbid meat; game birds; chemical composition; lipid indices; colour

Received: March 30, 2026; Revised: August 4, 2026; Accepted: August 6, 2026; Prepublished online: September 15, 2026