Species Saturated %Fatty Acids Polyunsaturated
(bad fat) Monounsaturated (good fat)
Beef 46.3 45.5 8.2
Buffalo 43.2 45.0 11.8
Mule Deer 48.0 31.8 20.2
Whitetail Deer 45.6 30.6 23.9
Elk 48.4 26.6 24.9
Antelope 41.2 27.1 31.6
Moose 36.6 24.3 39.1
Boar 35.7 47.0 17.3
Caribou 46.6 36.4 17.0
Rabbit 39.0 35.6 25.4
Squirrel 15.2 47.2 37.6
Some game meat is high in dietary cholesterol than
domestic meats, but the combination of more lean body
tissue, generally fewer calories, less saturated fat
and significantly higher percentage of
cholesterol-reducing polyunsaturated fatty acids makes
game a heart-healthy choice. Game meat also has a
significantly higher content of EPA than domestic meat.
EPA is thought to reduce the risk of developing
atherosclerosis, one of the major causes of heart
attack and stroke.
Source: North Dakota Sate University and U.S.
Department of Agriculture
Nutrient Content
Species Protein % Fat % Cholesterol Calories
(mg/100g*) (Kcal/100g*)
Beef (USDA choice) 22.0 6.5 72 180
Beef (USDA standard) 22.7 2.0 69 152
Lamb 20.8 5.7 66 167
Pork 22.3 4.9 71 165
Wild Boar** 28.3 4.38 109 160
Buffalo 21.7 1.9 62 138
Whitetail Deer 23.6 1.4 116 149
Mule Deer 23.7 1.3 107 145
Elk 22.8 .9 67 137
Moose 22.1 .5 71 130
Antelope 22.5 .9 112 144
Squirrel 21.4 3.2 83 149
Cottontail 21.8 2.4 77 144
Jackrabbit 21.9 2.4 131 153
Chicken 23.6 .7 62 135
Turkey (domestic) 23.5 1.5 60 146
Wild Turkey 25.7 1.1 55 163
Pheasant (domestic) 23.9 .8 71 144
Wild Pheasant 25.7 .6 52 148
Gray Partridge 25.6 .7 85 151
Sharptail Grouse 23.8 .7 105 142
Sage Grouse 23.7 1.1 101 140
Dove 22.9 1.8 94 145
Sandhill Crane 21.7 2.4 123 153
Snow Goose 22.7 3.6 142 121
Duck (domestic) 19.9 4.25 89 180
Mallard 23.1 2.0 140 152
Widgeon 22.6 2.1 131 153
*100 grams equals about 3 1/2 ounces.
** Not trimmed of fat before analysis.
In the above chart, all visible fat was trimmed before analysis. However,
surveys show that carcassed of domesticated animals have 25 to 30 percent
fat while the average fat content of wild game animals is only 4.3 percent.
Not only is the quantity of fat lower in game, but the quanaltiy is also
healthier. Fat from wild game contains a much higher proportion of
polyunsaturated fatty acids-good fat- and is lower in saturated fat-bad
fat.
Source: North Dakota State University
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