Nutrition in Deer Meat

Deer meat is typically lower in calories and fat, yet higher in iron, than beef. For example, a 3 oz. serving of deer meat contains 134 calories, 2.7 g of fat and 3.8 mg of iron, while a 3 oz. serving of beef tenderloin contains 275 calories, 21 g of fat and 2.6 mg of iron. Dietary reference intake, or DRI, percentages listed are for adults under age 50.

Calories and Protein

One 3 oz. serving of roasted deer meat contains 134 calories, nearly all of which come from protein. One serving contains 25.7 g of protein, which provides more than 100 of the calories. This 25.7 g of protein also supplies 56 percent of the DRI for women and 46 percent for men. Deer meat is a complete protein, as it contains all of the essential amino acids. Deer meat contains especially high amounts of the amino acids threonine and alanine. Threonine is important for connective tissue formation and alanine helps the body break down glucose.

Fat

One 3 oz. serving of deer meat contains 2.7 g of fat, which provide only 24 of the 134 calories. Only 1.1 g of this fat is saturated fat. The remaining fat is a combination of monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fat. One serving of deer meat contains 95 mg of cholesterol, which is 32 percent of the maximum amount recommended per day.

Carbohydrates

Like most meats, none of the calories in deer meat come from carbohydrates. Because there are no carbohydrates in deer meat, there is also no sugar, fiber or starch.

Minerals

Deer meat, like many other red meats, is a significant source of iron. One 3 oz. serving contains 3.8 mg, which supplies 48 percent of the DRI for men and 21 percent for women. One serving of deer meat also provides 20 percent of the DRI for selenium, 29 percent of copper, 27 percent for phosphorus and 14 percent for potassium. Additionally, one serving supplies 29 percent of the DRI for zinc for women and 21 percent for men.

Vitamins

Although deer meat contains no vitamin C, it does supply numerous B vitamins. One serving provides approximately 40 percent of the DRI for niacin, also known as B-3. Niacin is important for healthy digestion and proper metabolism. One serving of deer meat also supplies 39 percent of the DRI for riboflavin for men and 46 percent for women as well as more than 10 percent of the DRI for thiamin, or B-1.