Electrical stimulation during exsanguination: Effects on the prevalence of blood splash and on sensory quality characteristics in veal

Twenty-four veal calves were stunned with a captive bolt. Twelve calves were shackled by the left, the other twelve by the right hindleg. Approximately 1 min after sticking, six carcasses of each of these subgroups were stimulated electrically with equipment relying on a combined high (3000 V, 0·83 pulses s(-1), 1·5 ms duration) and low 35 V, 14 pulsess(-1)) voltage action. The remaining carcasses were left unharmed. At 24 h post-mortem hindquarters were boned to commercial primal cuts. Surrounding connective tissue and cut-up surfaces of primals as well as certain locations vulnerable for blood splash were further dissected. Neither electrical stimulation nor shackling by either of the hindlegs significantly affected the prevalence and severity of blood splash. Post-mortem factors promoting blood splash and possibly related to electrical stimulation and shackling are discussed. At 7 days post-mortem the sensory meat quality was assessed. In general, electrical stimulation did not significantly affect waterbinding and colour characteristics in longissimus (M. longissimus dorsi) and semimembranosus samples. Sarcomere lengths were similar in stimulated and control groups in longissimus but not in semimembranosus muscle. In both muscles shear force values were lower after electrical stimulation. In general, neither longissimus nor semimembranosus samples excised ipsilaterally from the shackled leg side exhibited differences in tenderness and sarcomere length. It is concluded that shackling by one leg or the other does not interfere with the tenderising effect of electrical stimulation.