Effect of slaughter weight and aging time on the quality of meat from Awassi ram lambs

Thirty Awassi ram lambs were used to investigate the effects of live weight at slaughter (SW) and aging time (AT) on meat quality attributes of Mm. Semitendinosus, Semimembranosus, Biceps femoris and Longissimus. Lambs were slaughtered at 20, 30 or 40 kg live weight, and muscles of each lamb carcass were aged for either 24 h or 7 days. Warner–Bratzler shear force values increased (P < 0.01) with increasing live weight and decreased (P < 0.01) by increasing AT in both M. Semimembranosus and Biceps femoris. Lightness (L*) of the four muscles decreased (P < 0.001) with increasing weight but was not affected by AT. Aging time increased (P < 0.05) redness (a*) in Mm.Semitendinosus and Longissimus. Cooking loss was reduced (P < 0.001) by increased AT in M. Longissimus and by increasing (P < 0.001) live weight in M.Semitendinosus. Aging time had no effect on expressed juice of all muscles but it was improved (P < 0.001) with increasing live weight in M. Semimembranosus. pH values were significantly influenced for Mm. Semimembranosus and Biceps femoris and values were higher for lighter weight and decreased with increasing weight. Aging time did not influenced pH. In conclusion, meat quality for lambs slaughtered up to 30 kg was better than for lambs slaughtered at 40 kg with quality being improved by increasing aging time.     

Utility for production of massaged products of selected wild boar muscles originating from wetlands and an arable area

Percentages of muscle fibre types, area of intramuscular fatty tissue (IMF) and changes in hardness, rheological properties as well as mean fibre cross-sectional area (CSA), and endomysium thickness of muscles from wild boars hunted in two different ecosystems (arable area vs. wetlands) were evaluated. Three muscles: Biceps femoris (BF), Semimembranosus (SM), and Longissimus (L) subjected to massaging (or not) for 4 h were studied.     

Microstructure alterations in beef intramuscular connective tissue caused by hydrodynamic pressure processing

Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was utilized to evaluate microstructural changes in intramuscular connective tissue of beef semimembranosus muscle subjected to hydrodynamic pressure processing (HDP). Samples were HDP treated in a plastic container (HDP-PC) or a steel commercial unit (HDP-CU). Control and HDP samples were obtained immediately post-treatment and after 14 days of aging for SEM and Warner–Bratzler shear force (WBSF) analysis. Immediately post-treatment, HDP treated samples exhibited lower (P < 0.01) WBSF than did controls. After aging, HDP-PC samples had lower (P < 0.01) WBSF than that of aged controls. SEM analysis indicated that HDP-PC treatment disrupted the integrity of the collagen fibril network of the endomysium in both the non-aged and aged samples. Aging effects on the intramuscular connective tissue were observed in the HDP-PC and control samples. Both WBSF and connective tissue changes were greater in the HDP-PC than in the HDP-CU treated samples. Data suggest that shockwave alterations to connective tissue contribute to the meat tenderization of HDP.     

Application of exogenous enzymes to beef muscle of high and low-connective tissue

Exogenous enzymes tenderize meat through proteolysis. Triceps brachii and Supraspinatus were randomly assigned to the seven enzyme treatments, papain, ficin, bromelain, homogenized fresh ginger, Bacillus subtilis protease, and two Aspergillus oryzae proteases or control to determine the extent of tenderization (Warner–Bratzler shear and sensory evaluation) and mode of action (myofibrillar or collagen degradation). Sensory evaluation showed improvement (P < 0.0009) for tenderness and connective tissue component and all except ginger had a lower shear force than the control (P < 0.003). Ginger produced more off-flavor than all other treatments (P < 0.0001). Only papain increased soluble collagen (P < 0.0001). Control samples were only significantly less than ficin for water soluble (P = 0.0002) and A. oryzae concentrate for salt soluble proteins (P = 0.0148). All enzyme treatments can increase tenderness via myofibrillar and collagenous protein degradation with no difference among high and low-connective tissue muscles.     

Meat quality of young Nellore bulls with low and high residual feed intake

Fifty-nine Nellore bulls from low and high residual feed intake (RFI) levels were studied with the objective of evaluating meat quality traits. Animals were slaughtered when ultrasound-measured backfat thickness reached 4 mm, and samples of Longissimus were collected. A mixed model including RFI as fixed effect and herd and diet as random effects was used, and least square means were compared by t-test. More efficient animals consumed 0.730 kg dry matter/day less than less efficient animals, with similar performance. No significant differences in carcass weight, prime meat cuts proportion, chemical composition, pH, sarcomere length, or color were observed between RFI groups. Shear force, myofibrillar fragmentation index and soluble collagen content were influenced by RFI, with a higher shear force and soluble collagen content and a lower fragmentation index in low RFI animals. Feedlot-finished low RFI young Nellore bulls more efficiently convert feed into meat, presenting carcasses within quality standards.     

Characterization of Longissimus thoracis,Semitendinosus and Masseter muscles and relationships with technological quality in pigs. 1. Microscopic analysis of muscles

Three porcine muscles (Longissimus thoracis, Semitendinosus, Masseter), known to have large differences in biochemical and histological traits, were fully characterized and the link between muscle structure and quality evaluated. The oxidative Masseter had more pigment, higher content of metmyoglobin, haem iron, protein and collagen, and was redder with higher fibre numbers, fibre circularity, pH and water holding capacity than the glycolytic Longissimus. Fibre type distribution showed predominance of type IIB in Longissimus and Semitendinosus white, type I in Semitendinosus red and IIA in Masseter. Type I fibres were larger than type IIB and IIA in Semitendinosus and Masseter, respectively, but not in the Longissimus, indicating that fibre size is muscle dependent. Muscle redness was positively correlated with type I fibre traits, haem iron and metmyoglobin, and negatively associated with type II fibre characteristics, non-haem iron and oxymyoglobin. Expressible juice had positive correlation with fibre size and negative with fibre number and connective tissue.     

Structural and biochemical characteristics of bovine intramuscular connective tissue and beef quality

The aim of the study was to evaluate the impact of structural and biochemical characteristics of muscle intramuscular connective tissue on beef quality. The experimental design was based on three muscles of three breeds sampled as fresh material and cooked at 55 °C (Longissimus thoracis and Semimembranosus) or at 70 °C (Semimembranosus and Biceps femoris) for quality assessment. The results showed that muscle characteristics influence beef quality differently from one muscle to another. In grilled LT, proteoglycan content contributed negatively to juiciness, and intramuscular lipids were linked positively to tenderness, flavour, residues and overall liking scores. In grilled SM, cross-link and lipid contents were involved in beef quality. In BF cooked to 70 °C, perimysial branch points were negatively linked to tenderness. In SM cooked to 70 °C, perimysial area was involved in beef quality. These results should allow a better understanding of the factors involved in background toughness, in juiciness and flavour of meat.     

Interrelationship between measures of collagen,compression, shear force and tenderness

This study examined the relationship between collagen content as determined by hydroxyproline assay with other measures of connective tissue, shear force and tenderness in lamb muscle. Samples were taken from both m. longissimus lumborum (LL, loin) and the m. semimembranosus (SM, topside) of 99 lambs. Sensory tenderness and compression of the LL were not correlated to any measure of collagen or connective tissue, with one exception where compression was correlated (r = − 0.28; P < 0.05) to the percentage of connective tissue determined by imaging. Intramuscular fat (IMF) was linearly correlated (P < 0.05) to sensory tenderness and compression, such that a 1% increase in IMF increased the tenderness score by 2.3 ± 0.83 units and reduced compression by 0.73 ± 0.21 N. There was no correlation between SM shear force and collagen concentration. The data suggest that measurement of collagen concentration did not explain the variation in shear force and sensory tenderness observed in the meat from lambs.     

Tenderness profiles of ten muscles from F1 Bos indicus x Bos taurus and Bos taurus cattle cooked as steaks and roasts

Twenty Bos taurus (Hereford x Angus crosses) and 20 F1 Bos indicus x Bos taurus heifers of the same age, management and feeding regimen, were harvested and evaluated at 2 days postmortem for carcass and meat traits. Ten muscles were obtained from the right sides and aged until 10 days postmortem. Bos indicus carcasses were lighter, had less fat cover, smaller ribeyes, and less intramuscular lipid (all p ≤ 0.05). Bos taurus longissimus lumborum, gluteus medius, triceps brachii, and semimembranosus muscles cooked as steaks and roasts had a lower Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) (p ≤ 0.05) than those from Bos indicus. Bos taurus deep pectoral and semitendinosus muscles cooked as roasts had a lower WBSF (p < 0.05) than Bos indicus. Infraspinatus, longissimus lumborum, and semitendinosus muscles were more tender (p < 0.05) as roasts than steaks, whereas the opposite was true for the deep pectoral and semimembranosus muscles. Seven of the 10 muscles had lower WBSF (p ≤ 0.05) for Bos taurus when cooked as steaks, roasts or both.     

Disparity of dietary effects on collagen characteristics and toughness between two beef muscles

Manipulation of growth rate and/or diet has been shown to affect protein turnover and may be used to improve beef quality. This trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of average daily gain (ADG) and diet on animal performance, collagen characteristics and beef quality of two different muscles; longissimus dorsi (LD) and semitendinosus (ST). Seventy six Hereford and Angus steers were assigned to three dietary management regimens for finishing: high grain diet based on corn (n = 28), alfalfa pasture (n = 22) and grass pasture (n = 26). Average daily gains were greater (P < 0.001) in Herefords vs. Angus and for corn- vs. pasture finished cattle. Overall, total collagen content was greater (P < 0.001) and the percentage of total collagen that was heat soluble was lower (P < 0.0001) for ST than for LD muscle. The lowest (P < 0.05) values for both total and heat soluble collagens were found in animals finished on corn. WBSF values for LD were greater (P < 0.01) in grass-fed vs. alfalfa- and grain-finished cattle while there was no difference in WBSF values for ST between grass- and corn-fed animals. No correlation between ADG and WBSF was observed for any muscle. ADG was not correlated with collagen solubility in ST, but was correlated (P < 0.05) with collagen solubility in LD. A key finding is that growth rate affected heat soluble collagen in the two muscles to a different extent. In conclusion, this study shows that different feeding strategies may not influence the tenderness of all muscles in a similar way.     

Effects of blade tenderization,aging method and aging time on meat quality characteristics of Longissimus lumborum steaks from cull Holstein cows

The effects of blade tenderization (BT), two aging methods (dry (D) and wet (W)), and aging time (2 and 23 d) on tenderness, color, and sensory properties of Longissimus lumborum muscles from 12 cull Holstein cows were evaluated. Dry-aged loins had higher combined trim and aging losses than control (C) for both D- and W-aging, mostly because of excess trim losses. BT steaks had WBSF of 33.13 N while C steaks had WBSF of 41.46 N (P = 0.09). Aging decreased WBSF. Blade tenderized steaks had higher cook loss than C steaks. Aging, W-aging, and BT × W-aging improved myofibrillar (sensory) tenderness scores. Aging and/or BT improves sensory panel tenderness cull cow Longissimus lumborum steaks. Aging and blade tenderization combined can increase tenderness and value of Longissimus steaks from cull Holstein cows.     

饲养方式和屠宰季节对乌珠穆沁羊肉肌内结缔组织特性的影响

饲养方式和屠宰季节对肌肉结缔组织特性影响较大,以不同饲养方式和屠宰季节的乌珠穆沁羊半腱肌和背最长肌结缔组织、肌内膜和肌束膜为研究对象,利用分光光度法测定其胶原蛋白含量及热溶解性,分别利用高效液相色谱仪和差示扫描量热仪测定吡啶诺林的含量和热变性温度。结果表明：饲养方式对乌珠穆沁羊背最长肌结缔组织、肌内膜和肌束膜的胶原蛋白含量影响显著（P＜0.05）;屠宰季节对自然放养乌珠穆沁羊背最长肌结缔组织、肌内膜的胶原蛋白含量影响显著（P＜0.05）;半腱肌结缔组织和肌内膜的胶原蛋白含量均受饲养方式和屠宰季节的显著影响（P＜0.05）;饲养条件和屠宰季节对乌珠穆沁羊背最长肌结缔组织、肌内膜中可溶解胶原蛋白和半腱肌和背最长肌结缔组织中吡啶诺林含量均影响显著（P＜0.05）;吡啶诺林含量越高的样品可溶解性胶原蛋白含量越低;半腱肌结缔组织、肌内膜和肌束膜的热变性温度低于背最长肌,相同屠宰季节时,自然放养乌珠穆沁羊肉的热变性温度高于圈养。     

Carcass and meat palatability breed differences and heterosis effects in an Angus-Brahman multibreed population

Additive genetic Angus-Brahman differences, heterosis effects, and least squares means for six carcass and six meat palatability traits were estimated using data from 1367 steers from the Angus-Brahman multibreed herd of the University of Florida collected from 1989 to 2009. Brahman carcasses had higher dressing percent (P < 0.0001), lower marbling (P < 0.0001), smaller ribeye area (P < 0.0001), and less fat over the ribeye (P < 0.0001) than Angus carcasses. Brahman beef was less tender (P < 0.0001), had more connective tissue (P < 0.0001), and it was less juicy (P < 0.001) than Angus beef. Heterosis increased hot carcass weight (P < 0.0001), dressing percent (P < 0.017), ribeye area (P < 0.0001), fat over the ribeye (P < 0.0001), and kidney, pelvic, and heart fat (P < 0.01) in Angus-Brahman crossbred steers. Results indicated that crossbred animals with up to 50% Brahman showed limited negative impact on meat quality while maximizing meat yield due to heterosis.     

Effects of chilling methods and hot-boning on quality parameters of M. longissimus lumborum from Bos indicus Nelore steer

To study the effects of chilling methods and hot-boning on quality parameters of M. longissimus lumborum (LL) of Nelore steers, sixteen left-carcass sides were electrically stimulated and the LL muscles were hot-boned and chilled at − 20 °C (HBVFC) or 0 °C (HBO). Eight control left-carcass sides were cold-boned (AT). All muscles were vacuum-packaged and aged at 0 °C for 14 d. Shear force and tenderness of the AT-treated muscles were not different from HBO-treated muscles. The shear force values of the HBVFC muscles were higher after 7 and 14 d post-mortem (pm) compared to those of the AT muscles, but there was no difference from the HBO muscles. Aging did not reduce the shear force values of the HBVFC muscles. The purge losses of the HBVFC muscles were higher than those of the HBO and AT muscles. The HBVFC muscles were less tender than the HBO and AT muscles at 14 d pm.     

Image analysis study of the perimysial connective network,and its relationship with tenderness and composition of bovine meat

Image processing method was developed to predict beef tenderness, collagen and lipids contents. The study was carried out on the semimembranosus muscle (SM). Images of SM slices were acquired under visible and ultraviolet lighting. In this work statistical technique was implemented as a method to relate the distribution of intramuscular connective tissue (IMCT), characterized by image analysis, to sensory tenderness evaluated by a trained panel and collagen and total lipids contents assessed chemically. Using Multiple Linear Regression (MLR) combining visible and ultraviolet lighting, IMCT image parameters were found to be good predictors of beef tenderness (R² = 0.89), collagen and lipids contents (respectively R² = 0.82 and R² = 0.91).     

Assessment of the sensory quality and shelf stability of selected Horro beef muscles in Ethiopia

The objective of this work was to assess sensory quality and retail life of Horro beef muscles in Ethiopia. Six muscles: M. rhomboideus (RM), M. infraspinatus (IS), M. longissimus lumborum (LL), M. semimembranosus (SM), M. biceps femoris (BF) and M. rectus femoris (RF) were considered. Sensory quality of the muscles was rated by a 9-member trained panel for palatability, tenderness, juiciness, amount of connective tissue (ACT), lean color and surface discoloration and measured by Warner-Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF). Retail life of the six muscles were evaluated for CIE 1976 L^∗a^∗b^∗ color values across 6 days. Significant differences (p < 0.05) between muscles for all sensory attributes and WBSF were found. Significant L^∗a^∗b^∗ color values of muscles and USDA quality grades by retail life were found (p < 0.05). Significant correlations (p < 0.05 or p < 0.01) of key parameters were also identified.     

Biochemical Characterization of Collagen in Myocommata and Endomysium Fractions of Carp and Spotted Mackerel Muscle

Myocommata and endomysium fractions were prepared from the different parts of body muscle of carp and spotted mackerel. Both type I and V collagens were detected in the myocommata and endomysium fractions of both fish. The relative concentration of type V collagen to type I collagen was higher in the endomysium fraction than in the myocommata fraction. Both type I and V collagens were less soluble in the endomysium fraction than in the myocommata fraction. These results indicated that the biochemical property of the collagen in the pericellular connective tissue was different from that of the collagen in the interstitial connective tissue of fish.     

Effects of feeding a single or sequence of beta-adrenergic agonists on cull cow meat quality

Sixty cull cows were implanted and assigned to four treatments: C = concentrate ration only; RH = supplemented with ractopmaine-HCl (8.33 mg/kg of feed) for 25 d; ZH = supplemented with zilpaterol-HCl (ZH) (200 mg head ^– 1d^– 1) for the last 20 d; and RH + ZH = supplemented with RH for 25 d followed by ZH for 20 d. All cows were fed a concentrate ration for 74 d. Infraspinatus steaks from cows supplemented with RH and/or ZH had lower (P < 0.05) shear force than steaks from C cows. Longissimus (LM) steaks from the 6–8th rib section of ZH and RH + ZH cows had decreased (P < 0.0001) desmin degradation at 10 and 21 d postmortem compared to steaks from C and RH cows. Collagen solubility of the LM was increased (P < 0.05) by ZH and RH + ZH compared to C. There were no treatment differences in 12th rib LM tenderness when enhanced with calcium lactate. Color and sensory traits of meat from RH + ZH cows were not different from C but flavor intensity was greater and off-flavor less than for C cows.     

Potential of a custom-designed fluorescence imager combined with multivariate statistics for the study of chemical and mechanical characteristics of beef meat

The potential of fluorescence imaging to discriminate different bovine muscles in relation with animal age, muscle type, chemical and mechanical properties was examined. Twenty-four muscles of three types (Gluteus medius, Longissimus dorsi, and Semitendinosus) and two animal age groups (10-13-years old and 12-24-months old) were obtained from the carcasses of Limousin breed cows. One hundred and forty-four images were collected at three illuminating conditions (exc 320 nm, exc 380 nm, and white light) using a custom-designed imager. The image cubes were processed using “regionprops” algorithm developed earlier in order to extract image shape features (number of shapes, area, major-axis-length, eccentricity, and solidity). Extracted image shape features were processed using custom-designed programs. The results of the PLSDA performed on image shape features showed 100% good discrimination for the three types of muscles. Muscle samples were also subjected to chemical analysis (dry matter, fat, pyridinoline, total, insoluble and soluble collagen) and mechanical tests (shear stress and breaking energy). PLSR models indicated relations between extracted image shape features and mechanical properties, i.e., R² = 0.69 and RMSEV = 0.514 were observed for breaking energy for adult-animal muscles. Regarding chemical composition, image shape features allowed to predict total collagen of L. dorsi with R² = 0.61 and RMSEV = 0.756. This study has demonstrated a promising potential of the custom-designed fluorescence imager combined with multivariate statistical tools in the study of beef meat.     

Color stability and biochemical characteristics of bovine muscles when enhanced with L- or D-potassium lactate in high-oxygen modified atmospheres

Two different bovine muscles – M.longissimus lumborum (LD) and M. psoas major (PM) – were injection-enhanced (n = 10, respectively) with solutions containing phosphate and potassium L- or D-lactate, cut into steaks, packaged with a high-oxygen (80% O₂) modified atmosphere packaging, stored 9 d at 2 °C and then displayed for 5 d at 1 °C. Instrumental color, total reducing activity (TRA), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity, and NADH were measured. Enhancement with L-lactate resulted in less color deterioration, and higher a^∗ and chroma values (P < 0.05) than non-enhanced control of the bovine muscles. L-lactate enhancement significantly increased NADH concentration and TRA of LD and PM than the non-enhanced control through increased LDH-B flux at 14 d. This study presents supportive evidence that the lactate-LDH system remains active for muscles with different metabolic activities and may be a possible mechanism of the lactate-color stabilization effect. Further, L-lactate enhancement can be utilized for improving muscles with lower color stability in high-oxygen modified atmosphere.