Garganica kid goat meat: Physico-chemical characterization and nutritional impacts

A detailed physico-chemical characterization of the Garganica kid goat meat was carried out on samples (quadriceps femoris muscles) coming from different farms located on the Promontory of Gargano, in Apulia (southern Italy) by determining conventional parameters (moisture, ashes, fat, and protein content), stable isotope ratios (15N/14N and 13C/12C), major (Ca, Mg, Na, and K), and trace metals (Zn, Mn, Cu, Fe, and Cr). Moreover, information on a large number of metabolites was obtained by means of 1H High-Resolution Magic-Angle Spinning Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (1H HR-MAS NMR) spectroscopy. The most interesting findings of this work, for their impact on human nutrition and health, were represented by a considerable protein content (18.9%) and a low fat content (2.98%), characterized by a remarkable average percentage of desirable fatty acids (62.76%) and a good (C18 + C18:1)/C16 average ratio (2.30), that make the Garganica kid goat meat a highly appreciable food product.

► Moisture, ash, fat and protein content determined for 10 Garganica kid goats.
► Innovative techniques added information to routine analyses.
► Stable isotope ratios, major and trace metal determinations were performed.
► Information on a large number of metabolites was obtained by 1H HR-MAS NMR.