Wildlife may host pathogens and chemicals of veterinary and public health relevance, as well as pathogens with significant economic relevance for domestic livestock. In conducting research on the occurrence and distribution of these agents in wildlife, a major challenge is the acquisition of a sufficient number of samples coupled with efficient use of manpower and time. The aim of this article is to present the methodology and output of a sampling approach for game animals, which was implemented from 2017/18 to 2020/21 at drive hunts in Brandenburg, Germany. The central element was a framework agreement with the BImA, whereby federal forest officials and other hunters collected most of the samples during field dressing. Further samples of game carcasses were obtained by scientists during subsequent gathering at a collection point. Altogether, 3185 samples from 938 wild ungulates of four species were obtained for various studies analysing—in this case—food-borne agents in game animals. Sampling was representative and reflected the proportional distribution of ungulate species hunted in Brandenburg. Hunting district and hunting season strongly influenced hunting bag and hence sampling success. This sampling approach was demonstrated to be a suitable basis for monitoring programs, that can be adapted to other regions.

Environmental, hunting and handling factors affect the microbial load of hunted game and the resulting meat products. The aim of this study was to systematically investigate the influence of several factors on the initial microbial load (IML) of game carcasses during the early hunting chain. Eviscerated roe deer body cavities (n = 24) were investigated in terms of total viable count and the levels of Pseudomonas spp., Lactobacillus spp., Enterobacteriaceae and Escherichia coli (E. coli). Furthermore, a risk analysis based on the obtained original IML data, literature search and a Failure Mode and Effects Analysis (FMEA) was performed. The IML could be explained in a regression model by factors including the higher body weight (BW), damaged gastrointestinal tract by the shot, ambient temperature or rain. The levels of Lactobacillus spp. (p = 0.0472), Enterobacteriaceae (p = 0.0070) and E. coli (p = 0.0015) were lower on the belly flap surface when gloves were used during evisceration. The literature search revealed that studies examining influencing factors (IF) on the IML of game carcasses found contradictory effects of the comparable IF on IML. Potential handling failures may lead to a higher IML of game carcasses during the early hunting chain ranked by FMEA. Several handling practices for game carcasses are recommended, such as ensuring efficient cooling of heavier BW carcasses to limit bacterial growth or eviscerating heavier carcasses before lighter ones.

The use of lead-based rifle bullets in hunting poses a risk to human and animal health when bullet fragments remain in the game meat. The objective of this study was to assess, for the first time, the number, size and spatial distribution of bullet fragments in game animals collectively and in three dimensions. Four roe deer (Capreolus capreolus) hunted with lead bullets were radiographed using computed tomography (CT) at each step of meat processing from animal bodies to edible parts. The animal bodies contained 43–199 fragments with a mean volume of 3.71 ± 5.49 mm³ and a mean distance of 6.5 ± 4.6 cm perpendicular to the wound channel. About 40% of the fragments were in the lower size range of < 1.00 mm³. Individual fragments were located up to 22.2 cm from the wound channel and were located in the edible parts (ribs, n = 2; haunch, n = 1; shoulder, n = 3) with up to 0.29 g (0.16 ± 0.15 g, mean ± SD) of estimated bullet fragment mass (BFM) deposited in the edible parts of the roe deer. Tissues in a radius of at least 16 cm around the wound channel should have been discarded in order to remove 95% of the BFM from the investigated roe deer. Additionally, around 85.1% of the initial bullet mass corresponding to 9.948 ± 1.040 g BFM were estimated to be introduced into the environment. This study highlights the challenges of ensuring sufficient removal of lead-based rifle bullet fragments in game meat processing for either human consumption purposes or for use as pet food.

Reduction of the microbial load of soiled carcasses is essential in the production of game meat. Rinsing with water is a common practice in handling game carcasses to remove any visible contamination. In this study, microbiological investigations were performed on carcasses of roe deer (Capreolus capreolus), inoculated with a mixture of gastrointestinal content and then either rinsed (n = 3) or unrinsed (n = 3). Water rinsing may have short-term effects on bacterial contamination related to soiling. However, introducing water into the body cavity may promote bacterial growth during cold storage.