The American alligator, Alligator mississippiensis, is thought by many to be one of Floridas true natives. This native Floridian has been prized over the years for its commercially valuable skin. In the past, this has unfortunately led to widespread, abusive harvesting of wild alligators that nearly led to their extinction. However, today under strict federal and state scrutiny, the wild alligator is making a strong comeback. Also, today we are witnessing the increase in numbers of farmraised alligators. Unlike their wild counterparts, these animals are raised under controlled conditions and harvested for their valuable skin and for their meat. The farmraised alligator industry is rapidly growing and the amount of alligator meat available for sale to the public is also growing. Unfortunately, we currently have little information regarding all aspects of alligator processing and the characteristics of the meat itself. Therefore, this study was designed to develop information regarding this subject using the following objectives:

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