Effects of early post-mortem pH and temperature on beef tenderness

The tenderness of loin steaks, prepared from beef sides after chilling, is strongly influenced by muscle temperature in the first 3 h after slaughter. Maintenance of about 37°C within the Longissimus muscle during this time, whether by heavy fat cover or by ambient-temperature manipulation, results in appreciable tenderness enhancement. Early post-mortem muscle pH (which varies over a wide range) also affects tenderness significantly; provided early and exceptionally fast chilling does not induce cold shortening, slow glycolysis promotes tenderness. Low-frequency (2 Hz) electrical stimulation, which accelerates glycolysis but causes negligible tissue disruption, significantly toughens the loin; in its normal mode (50–60 Hz), therefore, stimulation produces its desirable tenderising effect mainly—and perhaps solely—by fibre fracture.     

Low voltage electrical stimulation of lamb carcasses: effects on meat quality

The effects of an early post mortem low voltage electrical stimulation (28 V, 60 Hz) on biochemical changes and on final tenderness in muscles Longissimus thoracis et lumborum and Semimembranosus from lamb carcasses were studied. It was shown that electrical stimulation accelerated the glycolytic process resulting in a significant fall in pH during the first 6 h post mortem in both muscles examined and in a significant reduction in adenosine triphosphate (ATP) content in muscle Longissimus thoracis et lumborum. The effect of electrical stimulation on tenderness was recorded by measuring shear force values 2 and 7 days post mortem. Tenderness was significantly improved by electrical stimulation for the Longissimus thoracis et lumborum both at 2 and at 7 days post mortem, while for Semimembranosus electrical stimulation significantly increased tenderness just at 7 days post mortem.     

Effects of low-frequency electrical stimulation on beef tenderness

The application of 2 Hz, 500 V electrical stimulation to early post-mortem beef sides causes rapid muscle glycolysis, yet produces no trace of the extensive tissue rupture effected by 60 Hz current. By means of this low frequency technique, coupled with a mild or delayed-chill routine, we have examined the supposed tenderizing effect of rapid pH decline alone, without concurrent fiber fracture or cold-shortening intervention. Loin steaks from sides receiving this treatment were significantly tougher than those from paired control sides, an observation strongly suggesting that tenderization is hindered by rapid glycolysis. In other experiments, 60 Hz 500-V current was found to produce very extensive fracturing with breaks appearing (on average) every 6 mm of fiber length; this treatment resulted in a very significant tenderizing relative to that observed in the unstimulated control sides. It is concluded that, apart from its ability to prevent cold-shortening, normal-frequency high-voltage stimulation exerts its beneficial tenderizing action by fracturing the fibres; the accompanying acceleration of glycolysis actually causes a small, but definite, negative effect on eating quality.     

Effect of electrical stimulation on protease activity and tenderness of M. longissimus from cattle with different proportions of Bos indicus content

The effect of electrical stimulation on protease activity (at approx. 3 h postmortem), sensory tenderness scores and shear force was determined on M. longissimus samples from three Bos indicus genotypes (0% Hereford, 50% Brahman×Hereford and 100% Brahman). The samples were divided and aged for 1 or 30 days. Electrical stimulation resulted in a general reduction in calpastatin activity suggesting that it accelerated proteolysis. Calpastatin activity increased commensurate with increasing Bos indicus content. Several significant interactions were shown, the most relevant of these was the interaction between Bos indicus content×electrical stimulation. In contrast to the other genotypes, calpain I and calpain II activities were shown to increase (significant for calpain II only) following stimulation in the purebred Brahmans (100%). There was a significant reduction in tenderness with increasing Bos indicus content. However, breed differences in shear force were reduced by electrical stimulation. The improvement in shear force following ageing was smaller for stimulated carcasses compared to the controls. This tends to reinforce the premise that electrical stimulation accelerates proteolysis. The results of this study show clear genotypic differences in proteolytic activity and tenderness. However, electrical stimulation can be employed to reduce breed differences in tenderness of the M. longissimus.     

The influence of the rate of pH decline on the rate of ageing for pork. II: Interaction with chilling temperature

The influence of the rate of pH decline post slaughter on the rate of ageing of pork m. longissimus thoracis et lomborum was investigated. The rate of pH decline on 24 finisher pigs was manipulated by altering the method of stunning (carbon dioxide or electrical head to heart) and by the use of electrical stimulation (none or low voltage electrical stimulation (LVES) at 4 min post slaughter for either 15 s or 60 s). The rate of temperature decline was altered by chilling at 2 or 14?°C until rigor. The pH and temperature decline rates generated were designed to induce cold shortening at one extreme and protein denaturation at the other. The research results showed that the rate of pH decline was increased by electrical stimulation which in turn reduced cold shortening and improved tenderness. Chilling at 14?°C reduced the time to reach rigor by 1.3 h and resulted in a faster aging rate as indicated by a larger percentage change in WBSF from rigor to 4 days postmortem relative to carcases chilled at 2?°C. The greater tenderising effect appeared to be due to a combination of prevention of cold shortening and increased proteolysis. However, chilling slowly at 14?°C or the use of LVES for 60 s or any combination of these treatments did not induce protein denaturation.     

不同电刺激处理时间对宰后马肉成熟过程中嫩度的影响

采用不同电刺激处理时间对宰后马肉进行处理,对马肉成熟过程中的蒸煮损失率、剪切力、可溶性蛋白浓度(soluble protein concentration,SPC)、肌原纤维小片化指数(myofibrillar fragmentation index,MFI)、胶原蛋白溶解性及微观结构进行研究。结果表明:不同电刺激处理时间对宰后马肉成熟过程中的蒸煮损失率没有显著影响(P0.05);在一定电刺激处理时间范围内,马肉成熟过程中剪切力下降,SPC上升,MFI上升,胶原蛋白溶解性上升。实验条件下电刺激60 s对改善马肉的嫩度具有较好的效果,进一步延长电刺激处理时间对嫩度的改善效果不明显。电刺激60 s、成熟14 d时,马肉剪切力较对照组下降了13.8%,SPC与MFI分别是对照组的1.16倍与1.28倍,电刺激破坏了马肉的肌纤维结构。适当的电刺激处理能够促进宰后马肉的成熟,使较为粗糙的马肉得到有效的嫩化。本研究为马肉电刺激嫩化机理及产品开发提供了一定的理论依据。     

Comparisons of the effect of electrical stimulation methods on postmortem pH decline in beef muscle

Results of four electrical stimulation (ES) studies were summarized to demonstrate the impact of different ES parameters on pH decline patterns in postmortem M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum. Postmortem pH decline was modeled as a non-linear function of time, and estimates of minimum obtainable pH, pH decline rates, and time to reach pH 6·0 were compared for each study. The decline model for study 4 (AC, 60 Hz, 50 V; 5 min post mortem) had a larger (P < 0·05) estimate for decline rate than that for study 1 (AC, 60 Hz, 400 V; 1 h post mortem) and the control (non-stimulated) data. The model estimate of time to pH 6·0 (0·56 h) for study 4 was the shortest (P < 0·05) for all treatments. Different ES parameters produce different pH decline patterns post mortem and, therefore, may impact product quality and fabrication and chilling protocols adopted in fresh beef processing.     

Alternating frequency to increase the response to stimulation from medium voltage electrical stimulation and the effect on objective meat quality

The use of alternating frequencies during stimulation can increase stimulation response of a medium voltage electrical stimulation unit (MVS) by increasing the rate of pH decline. Various combinations of frequency modulation were tested in experiment 1 to determine the treatment resulting in the greatest stimulation response; the lowest initial pH, fastest rate of pH decline, highest temperature at pH 6 and the highest number of carcasses with a pH of 6 by 25(o)C and the treatment achieving the highest number of carcasses in the pH temp window (temperature at pH 6 between 18-25(o)C). The objective meat quality of these treatments compared to an unstimulated treatment was tested in experiment 2. Modulating the frequency (Hz) across the 6 segmented electrodes of the MVS by 10, 15, 25, 10, 15, 25Hz (Treatment 6, using a pulse width: 2.5ms, current: 1A) resulted in the greatest stimulation response. This treatment may be suitable for abattoirs that hot bone sheepmeat and require fast pH declines to ensure minimal cold shortening of meat. However, this treatment did not result in the tenderer meat despite the higher stimulation response. This treatment may have induced a greater number of contractions overall and therefore a greater pH decline response but resulted in less myofibrillar disruption compared to the other treatments due to a concomitant decreased force of contraction thus reducing potential tenderisation. Maintaining a constant frequency of 15Hz (Treatment 1; pulse width: 2.5ms, current: 1A) resulted in a higher number of carcasses in the pH temp window required (temperature at pH 6 between 18-25(o)C) in part A (P<0.05) and in addition to the higher tenderness levels this treatment may be more appropriate to satisfy the overall demands of abattoirs using these systems. This paper has also demonstrated electrical stimulation results in tenderer meat compared to unstimulated meat even after 30d of ageing (2.53±0.4 compared to 2.85±0.1 for the loin (M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum) (P<0.01) possibly due to a protective benefit of stimulation on meat tenderness. Overall, no detrimental effects of modulating frequency were observed on drip loss or retail colour display despite a greater rate of colour change observed with the modulated frequency treatment and the longer aged product.     

Electrical stimulation of red deer (Cervus elaphus) carcasses - effects on rate of pH-decline, meat tenderness, colour stability and water-holding capacity

A total of 14 female red deer were included in a study on the effects of low voltage carcass electrical stimulation on meat tenderness, colour stability and water-holding capacity. Carcasses were randomly allocated to either electrical stimulation treatment (ES; 90-95 V unipolar pulses, 7.5 ms duration, 15 Hz for a duration of 55 s) or no electrical stimulation (non-ES) (n=7 in each group). Temperature and pH decline was recorded in M.m. triceps brachii, longissimus dorsi et lumborum (at the last rib; LD) and biceps femoris, at intervals from 0.5 to 20 h post-mortem. At 24 h post-mortem, LD from the left side were excised, vacuum packaged and refrigerated at -1.5°C. Glycogen concentrations, measured at 30 min post-mortem, and ultimate pH did not differ between groups. Compared to controls, ES increased the rate of muscle pH decline and produced lower shear forces at 1 day, 1 week and 3 weeks post-mortem, but these differences disappeared by 6 and 12 weeks post-mortem. Sarcomere lengths at 24 h post-mortem were unchanged by ES. After 1 week of refrigerated storage, ES significantly reduced display life (hours of Minolta a* value ? 12), but this difference disappeared at 3, 6 and 12 weeks of ageing. ES did not affect drip at any ageing time point. The present results demonstrate that the benefits of ES on tenderness are not permanent, and the procedure is not necessary for a long-term, chilled product. This study showed no detrimental effects of using electrical stimulation on meat colour stability or drip loss.     

Using electricity as a tool in quality studies of Atlantic salmon

In order to reveal what role anaerobe muscle activity has on the fillet quality in Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar), 18 rested fish were killed on site and immediately filleted. One fillet was used as control group while the other was electrically exercised using 10 V, 5 Hz pDC for 3 min. Fillet weight and muscle pH was measured before the fillets were wrapped in aluminum foil and stored on ice. After 7 days muscle pH, color, and weight was measured. Texture profile analysis (TPA) was estimated using a 20 mm cylindrical probe compressing either at 40, 60 or 80% into the fillet and the shear force was estimated by slicing standardized muscles samples with a blade. Results show that electrical stimulation forces the muscle to contract and the muscle pH to drop by 0.5 units, leading to higher drip loss and loss of color. Comparing the fillets in pairs (paired t test) strengthens evidence on drip loss and color loss, but revealed also softer texture. Optimum compression rate for detecting differences in salmon muscle is at 60% compression. We conclude that electrical stimulation is a powerful tool for simulating anaerobe muscle activity enabling comparative studies within the same individual, hence isolating the variation amongst individuals and the location of sampling. Furthermore electrical stimulation reduces the need for live animal experimentation in quality studies.     

Electrospun conducting polymer nanofibers and electrical stimulation of nerve stem cells

Tissue engineering of nerve grafts requires synergistic combination of scaffolds and techniques to promote and direct neurite outgrowth across the lesion for effective nerve regeneration. In this study, we fabricated a composite polymeric scaffold which is conductive in nature by electrospinning and further performed electrical stimulation of nerve stem cells seeded on the electrospun nanofibers. Poly-L-lactide (PLLA) was blended with polyaniline (PANi) at a ratio of 85:15 and electrospun to obtain PLLA/PANi nanofibers with fiber diameters of 195 ± 30 nm. The morphology, chemical and mechanical properties of the electrospun PLLA and PLLA/PANi scaffolds were carried out by scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray photo electron spectroscopy (XPS) and tensile instrument. The electrospun PLLA/PANi fibers showed a conductance of 3 × 10?? S by two-point probe measurement. In vitro electrical stimulation of the nerve stem cells cultured on PLLA/PANi scaffolds applied with an electric field of 100 mV/mm for a period of 60 min resulted in extended neurite outgrowth compared to the cells grown on non-stimulated scaffolds. Our studies further strengthen the implication of electrical stimulation of nerve stem cells on conducting polymeric scaffolds towards neurite elongation that could be effective for nerve tissue regeneration.     

Physical-Chemical Properties and Cooking Yield of Hamburgers Prepared from Accelerated Processed Beef

The effect of time of processing, pre- vs post-rigor, on quality of hamburgers prepared from electrically stimulated beef was investigated. Within 2 hr postmortem flanks of right sides of 8 electrically stimulated (85 V, 14 Hz, 30 s) and 8 nonstimulated cow carcasses were hot-processed into hamburgers. Flanks of left sides were cold-processed after 20 hr at 1 ± 1°C. Electrical stimulation resulted in significantly higher cooking losses than no stimulation. Hot processed hamburgers from nonstimulated beef had lowest cooking losses whilst hot-processing virtually nullified adverse effects of stimulation on cooking yield. Irrespective of electrical stimulation, shear forces for hot-processed hamburgers were lower than shear forces for cold processed hamburgers. Increased brightness (higher L*-values) observed in hot-processed hamburgers was a result of fat-smearing.     

Milk production, health, behavior, and endocrine responses of cows exposed to electrical current during milking

Six cows were exposed during milkings to electrical current to assess its effects on behavior, health, milking performance, and endocrine responses. Three treatments (0, 4, and 8 mA) were applied in a changeover design over three consecutive 1-wk periods. A cow received the same current treatment during 14 consecutive milkings, beginning with the evening milking (d 1) and ending with the morning milking (d 8). Treatments began 5 min before milking and continued until milking unit removal. Treatments consisted of 60 Hz square wave current of 5-s duration applied every 30 s from udder to hooves. Milk accumulation curves provided information about milk yields, milking times, peak milk flow rates, and times of peak milk flow. Residual milk yields also were measured. Milk was analyzed for protein, fat, and somatic cells. Blood samples from 60 min before to 60 min after treatment were collected, and oxytocin, prolactin, and cortisol concentrations were measured. Behavioral responses to current decreased with time. Changes of milking performance and milk composition were not significant. Changes of milking related cortisol responses during 8-mA current stimulation were significant. Oxytocin release was delayed during 8-mA treatments. Current treatments did not affect prolactin.     

The biochemical and physical effects of electrical stimulation on beef and sheep meat tenderness

Application of electrical stimulation in the sheep and beef processing industry has been erratic around the world and this may reflect an incomplete knowledge of how to optimise the technology. Although it is well established that stimulation increases the rate of post-mortem glycolysis, other biochemical and biophysical effects have been implicated with the use of this technology. This review seeks to examine the current theories about the effect of stimulation on post-mortem muscle. The classical view that stimulation prevents muscle from shortening excessively during rigor development has been expanded to include the possibility that it also results in physical disruption of muscle structure. The interaction of these effects with the acceleration of the rate of proteolysis through activation of the calpain protease system has not been comprehensively reviewed in the past. Thus there are two mechanisms which could explain the effect of stimulation on tenderisation, reduced 'cold-induced' shortening and alteration of protein structure. A secondary effect is the enhancement of the rate of proteolysis stimulated by release of Ca (2+) at a higher temperature. As a result of this review we highlight several areas that may prove fruitful for further research. The challenge for further development of electrical stimulation systems is optimisation of the activation of the enzyme systems in parallel with manipulation of chilling regimes so as to ensure rigor mortis is achieved at temperatures which minimise shortening. These optimal temperatures largely established at a fixed incubation temperature for detached muscle may be different when measured in intact carcasses. The potential of regional stimulation of sections of the carcass to achieve this outcome is worthy of study given the different fibre composition of muscles and temperature gradients. In addition, to ensure that appropriate amounts of energy are applied to individual carcasses, development of self-response stimulation units, which are able to determine carcass resistance and apply appropriate durations or strengths of stimulation is worthy of future research. This would lead to more effective electrical stimulation practices.     

The effect of repeat application of electrical stunning on the welfare of pigs

Although legislation requires the production of immediate insensibility, implying that a stun can be applied only once, the practice of repeat application of electrical stunning is common. However, the relative consequences of such repeat applications are unknown. This study investigated the effects of repeat applications of electrical stunning (200 V, 50 Hz) following different delays of 15, 60 or 180 s between the initial stun and the repeat applications. The parameters examined, following stunning, were the durations of spontaneous physical activity, time to return of reflexes and the duration of the epileptiform activity in the electrocorticogram. The results showed that repeat application of electrical stunning can produce successive epileptic activity and therefore an effective stun. The duration of tonic and clonic phase activity following repeat application was significantly shorter than after a single stun only. There was a tendency for the reflexes to return more quickly following repeat application. The use of electrical stunning to re-stun pigs appears to raise no welfare concerns and although commonly used, should only be applied out of necessity rather than as routine practice.     

Comparison of CO(2) stunning with manual electrical stunning (50 Hz) of pigs on carcass and meat quality

The effects of carbon dioxide stunning on carcass and pork quality attributes were compared with the effects of manual electrical stunning using either head-only or head-to-brisket electrodes. A total of 30 Large White×Landrace boars (homozygous dominant for the halothane gene) were randomly allocated immediately prior to slaughter to one of three stunning treatments: carbon dioxide (90% CO(2)), head only (HO; 1.3 A for 4 s at a frequency of 50 Hz) or head to brisket (HBR; 1.3 A for 4 s at a frequency of 50 Hz) electrical stunning. The pH of the M. longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle measured at two sites [between the fifth and sixth thoracic vertebrae (Site 1) and the last thoracic rib (Site 2)] at 40 min post-slaughter was lower (P<0.001) in HBR stunned pigs compared with both CO(2) and HO stunned pigs. No differences in ultimate pH of the LT at either measurement site were found due to stunning method. However, a faster (P<0.05) relative rate of pH decline was found in the LT at Site 1 from HBR stunned pigs compared with CO(2) stunned pigs. No difference in the relative rate of muscle pH decline (P>0.05) between stunning methods was found in the LT muscle at Site 2. Pork from HBR stunned pigs was paler (P<0.05) and had a higher (P<0.001) percentage drip loss compared with pork from HO and CO(2) stunned pigs. LT muscles from HBR stunned pigs had lower (P<0.001) WB shear force values compared with pork from HO stunned pigs (6.57 vs. 8.12 kg, S.E.D. 0.49). Carcass quality was improved by CO(2) stunning, with less (P<0.05) ecchymosis-affected pork trimmed from shoulder primals compared with electrically stunned pigs. These results indicate that manual electrical stunning of pigs using HO tongs and CO(2) stunning reduced percentage drip loss, reduced muscle lightness and reduced the rate of muscle pH decline compared with pigs manually electrically stunned using HBR tongs.     

The effects of electrical stimulation on selected biochemical and histological characteristics of different mutton muscles

The effects of electrical stimulation on selected biochemical characteristics and histological structure of the mutton Longissimus dorsi (LD) and Semimembranosus (SM) muscles were studied. Electrical stimulation had significant influence on the histological characteristics such as sarcolemma disruption, nuclear disorganization, contracture banding and cellular tearing. However, sarcomere length, total and free beta-glucuronidase activities as well as collagen characteristics were not significantly affected by electrical stimulation. Different muscles did not influence histological parameters and beta-glucuronidase activities.     

Changes of the fatty acid composition and malondialdehyde concentration in rabbit Longissimus dorsi muscle after regular electrical stimulation

The experiment was carried out to investigate, whether in vivo transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) affects the fatty acid composition and antioxidant status of rabbit Longissimus dorsi muscle. Altogether 20 Pannon White meat type rabbits were divided into two groups, from which one was routinely exposed to TENS treatment with the following settings: 2 events (each 20 min) a day/50 days, 1 channel (2 electrodes)/animal, 30 Hz, 20 μs impulse length and 10 mA. The control group was not treated. After slaughtering gas chromatography analysis of the muscle showed significantly decreased stearic, arachidonic and docosahexaenoic acid proportions, while the estimated activity of the elongase enzyme decreased. The malondialdehyde concentration decreased insignificantly in the treated group, however, it followed the changes of the total highly unsaturated fatty acid amount (three or more double bonds), which decreased from 9.16% to 7.81%. The adaptation to the in vivo electrical treatment may significantly influence the meat fatty acid profile, especially PUFA proportion.     

Electrical stimulation - when more is less

This study was conducted to determine whether electrical stimulation per se can be omitted when other electrical inputs to beef carcasses (stunning and immobilisation) are used. In addition, we investigated which sample preparation method at 1 day post mortem (p.m.), cooked fresh, frozen, or after thawing, had the best predictive value for shear force after ageing of the muscle. Beef carcasses were electrically immobilized (75 V, 15 Hz) before and during exsanguination for 20 or 80 s and meat quality characteristics of the longissimus were determined at 1 and 7 days post mortem. Muscles from carcasses receiving the higher electrical input were similar in tenderness at 1 day p.m., but tougher at 7 days p.m. This result could be explained by the effect of muscle shortening and post mortem proteolysis on tenderness. These results indicate that even low electrical input during immobilization can adequately stimulate carcasses and avoid cold shortening. Freezing samples resulted in a considerable improvement in tenderness and cooking samples from the frozen state had the highest predictive value for tenderness after ageing. In a second experiment it was determined that freezing and thawing did not result in appreciable differences in cooking loss or proteolysis. The tenderising effect of freezing may be explained by tissue damage due to ice formation.     

宰后电刺激对新疆多浪羊肉品质的影响

以新疆地方品种多浪羊为研究对象,探讨电刺激对其宰后羊肉品质的影响。结果表明：电刺激显著加快多浪羊宰后肌肉pH值的下降速率（P＜0.05）,显著降低多浪羊肉贮藏损失和宰后1?d的蒸煮损失率（P＜0.05）;电刺激组肌原纤维小片化指数显著高于对照组（0?s）（P＜0.05）,宰后1?d多浪羊肉剪切力显著低于对照组（P＜0.05）。电刺激可以显著降低宰后3?d羊肉的L*值和b*值（P＜0.05）;电刺激能够显著加快宰后初期（14?h内）肌肉无氧糖酵解速率,糖原、三磷酸腺苷和二磷酸腺苷降解速率以及乳酸、一磷酸腺苷和肌苷酸生成速率（P＜0.05）。综合分析3?个不同电刺激时间处理组（30、60、90?s）,其中电刺激60?s对多浪羊肉品质改善效果最佳,可以将电压70?V、频率50?Hz、60?s的电刺激处理作为新疆多浪羊宰后电刺激的参数推广应用。