Effect of muscle and post-mortem rate of pH and temperature fall on antioxidant enzyme activities in beef

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of muscle, inner and outer Musculus biceps femoris (IBF and OBF respectively) and Musculus longissimus dorsi (LD), on the post-mortem rate of pH and temperature fall, and the activity of superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px) during simulated retail display. At day 0 of display (2 days post-mortem), the CAT and GSH-Px activities were lower in IBF than in OBF and LD (P < 0.001), and the SOD activity was lower in OBF compared to IBF and LD (P < 0.001). At day 10 of display, SOD and CAT activities had decreased in all three muscles compared to day 0 (P < 0.001), whereas the GSH-Px activity did increase with time of display. Across muscles, there were significant relationships between temperature fall, colour, lipid and colour stability and antioxidant enzyme activities.     

Influence of porcine stress on blood composition and early post-mortem meat quality in pigs of different halothane genotypes

The purpose of this study was to investigate porcine stress, blood serum values and early post-mortem (pm) meat quality in pigs of unknown and known halothane genotype. Collection, transportation and slaughtering of the pigs were studied from the farm up to the carcass chilling (45 min pm). Reactors (nn) had the highest creative kinase (CK) activity. CK activity increased most prominently during transport in reactors, and at the abattoir in non-reactors (Nn or NN). The content of serum glucose was highest in non-reactors and lowest in non-carriers (NN, P<0·01). Serum glycerol level was highest in reactors and lowest in carriers (Nn, P < 0·05). Differences in serum lactate and pH values were not significant. Carriers had the highest and non-reactors the lowest carcass temperature, 0 min pm (P = 0·001). Temperature of non-reactors increased most rapidly (9·4%) and that of carriers increased most slowly (0·9%) during scalding. Reactors had the most rapid (3·1%) and carriers the slowest (0·3%) fall in carcass temperature between scalding and chilling. No significant differences were found between halothane genotypes in the rate of glycogen breakdown and lactate formation, 45 min pm. PSE (pH(1) ≤ 5·8) frequencies of reactors, non-reactors, non-carriers and carriers were 100·0, 14·3, 13·0 and 12·5, respectively.     

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.     

生猪宰前皮温、宰后肉温及pH值对肉品质量影响

生猪屠宰后,肉尸(胴体)会产生系列新陈代谢变化.这一过程和结果直接关系到肉品卫生安全质量.宰前皮肤温度与宰后肌肉温度及pH值变化,是影响猪肉品质的三个主要因素.宰前充分休息与饮水,宰后严格冷却工艺和屠宰修正工艺是提高肉品品质的重要措施.     

Electrical stimulation of pigs-effect on pH fall, meat quality and Cathepsin B+L activity

This work was performed to evaluate the effect of electrical stimulation (ES) on pH fall and meat quality of LD and BF in Danish halothane free pigs stunned with CO(2). ES resulted in a significant drop in pH of 0.3 units in both LD and BF and 3 h lairage resulted in 0.1 units lower pH at 20 min post mortem. Lairage time did not affect and did not interact with the effect of ES on any of the measured meat quality parameters. ES did not affect the ultimate pH in LD, BF, SM and SC or internal reflection value in LD. However, ES caused higher internal reflection and drip loss in BF and increased the PSE frequency in LD (2 to 7%) and in BF (2 to 49%). The frequency of PSE areas in the centre of SM was 70% for ES pigs compared to 9% for control pigs. ES and ageing improved the tenderness and reduced the hardness in LD as well as shear force of unaged BF. The effect of ES on tenderness and hardness was approximately half the effect of ageing, but the effect of ES and ageing were additive. ES significantly increased the activities of cathepsin B+L in the myofibrillar fraction, but there were no differences in proteolytic activity in the other fractions. It is concluded that ES improves tenderness in LD and BF, but has a negative effect on the quality of BF and SM. Therefore ES is not an economically attractive alternative for improvement of tenderness in LD compared to ageing in Danish pigs. ?     

Effectson carcass weight and meat quality of pigs dehaired by scalding or singering post-mortem

Two experiments were designed to compare the effects of two pig dehairing techniques. In the first experiment, 120 pigs were slaughtered in the same abattoir in five weekly sereis. One half of each series was dehaired by singeing (the usual technique in this abattoir), while the other half was dehaired in a scalding-dehairing combination. In the second experiment, 48 pigs were slaughtered in two series, one-half of each series in an abattoir practising singeing, the other half in an abattoir practising scalding. Temperature and pH were measured 30 min after slaughter in the longissimus lumborum. Meat quality was assessed the day after slaughter in various muscles. One ham was cured and cooked, while the other one was processed by dry-curing. In both experiments, carcass weights and yields were noticeably higher after singeing. Hams were heavier in singed carcasses, but their proportions in the carcasses were little or not at all affected by the dehairing technique. Proportions of loins, shoulders and bellies were similar with both dehairing techniques. The dehairing technique affected neither temperature nor rate of post-mortem pH fall. Meat quality as assessed on fresh meat was slightly better in singed carcasses. Weights of cooked ham and dry ham per side were higher in singed carcasses, due to the higher initial ham weight, but processing yields were not affected by the dehairing technique.     

Effect of temperature and pH on the post-mortem degradation of myofibrillar proteins

Incubation of bovine muscle at 37°C promoted a more drastic proteolytic change in myofibrillar proteins, as determined from sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gels of isolated myofibrils, than incubation at 4°C. Degradation of myosin and troponin-T were the most noticeable changes at 37°C. Loss of α-actinin was observed in the 4°C incubated muscle. Ground bovine muscle incubated at pH 5·4 and 7 revealed that alterations in myosin and troponin-T were the most noticeable changes at ph 5·4 while troponin-T and α-actinin were altered at pH7. More troponin-T degradation occurred at pH 5·4 and 37°C than at pH7 and 4°C (similar to the degradation of myosin), indicating that troponin-T degradation in post-mortem muscle may be an indicator of overall myofibrillar proteolysis and not responsible for post-mortem tenderisation per se. Myosin degradation in the ground samples incubated at pH 5·4 and in whole samples incubated at 37°C was compared with the digestion of myofibrillar myosin by papain. Both pyrophosphate and Guba-Straub extracts of the 37°C and pH 5·4 treated samples confirmed that myosin degradation did occur to a much greater extent at this temperature and pH than at 4°C and pH7, and, in addition, at pH 5·4 frequent cleavage occurred near the papain sensitive site of myosin.     

Effect of transport time on welfare and meat quality in pigs

The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of transport duration on some welfare and meat quality parameters. For the study 144 pigs were used. One group of 72 animals was subjected to 15 min and the others to 3 h transport time. Blood from all animals was analysed in order to detect stress-susceptible pigs and assess pre-slaughter stress. Meat quality parameters were analysed from Longissimus thoracis and Semimembranosus muscles. It was concluded that under normal Spanish commercial conditions, pigs subjected to short transport showed a more intense stress response and poorer meat quality than pigs subjected to moderately long transport when they were immediately slaughtered on arrival at the slaughterhouse. Transport of 3 h might have allowed the animals to adapt to transport conditions and then could act as a resting period like a lairage time. The effect of transport time on welfare and meat quality parameters was more important than genotype and sex. Nevertheless, from the point of view of blood enzyme activities, genetically stress susceptible females transported for 3 h were more sensitive to muscle damage.     

Potential interactions between the effects of preslaughter stress and post-mortem electrical stimulation of the carcasses on meat quality in pigs

The experiment examined the influence on pork quality of the electrical stimulation of carcasses from pigs subjected to different ante-mortem handling treatments. The carcasses were subjected to a slow chilling regimen to reflect less than ideal commercial practice. A total of 288 pigs (mean live weight 89 kg) of both sexes and a range of genotypes were used. They came from the Meat and Livestock Commission 's Pig Development Unit at Stotfold and were processed in 12 equal batches. Prior to slaughter they were transported for 2 h (80 km) at a stocking density of 0.5 m(2)/100 kg live weight. Preslaughter handling included being mixed or not with unfamiliar animals and being given a 3 h rest in lairage or not. One group received handling to simulate that in stunning races immediately before slaughter. There were no material interactions between the effects of ante- and post-mortem handling. Pigs rested 3 h in lairage had lower plasma cortisol levels irrespective of whether mixed with unfamiliar animals. Plasma lactate concentrations increased with greater ante-mortem stress. Pigs subjected to the simulated stunning race treatment had elevated carcass temperature. Greater ante-mortem stress progressively elevated pHu in the muscles and tended to reduce eating quality. Electrical stimulation followed by slow chilling raised initial muscle temperature, reduced pH(45) and pHu, and produced meat that was paler, had higher hue and saturation values and lost more drip during storage. Neither instrumentally-determined texture nor taste panel texture was affected, but electrical stimulation decreased juiciness and increased pork flavour. Overall eating quality was not affected by stimulation.     

The effect of pre-treatment of pigs with curare on the post-mortem rate of pH fall and onset of rigor mortis in the musculature

• 1 A number of Large White pigs were immobilised before death with curare, and the rate of post-mortem change in their muscles was compared with that of a group of control pigs.
• 2 It is shown that the effect of curare is to give very high and constant initial pH, CP and ATP values in the excised LD muscles, and a slow and constant rate of post-mortem biochemical and physical change, compared with the very variable rates observed in pigs killed by the normal method of stunning and sticking.
• 3 Pig muscle, curarised in this way, shows the low post-mortem rate of pH fall, characteristic of the muscles of other species, when no nervous stimuli are allowed to reach the muscles before death; for example, muscle from myanesinised rabbits, and surprisingly enough, from myanesinised Danish Landrace pigs, which otherwise often show extremely high and variable rates. Thus, there is little or no difference between breeds or species in the rate or time course of post-mortem change, when the animals are immobilised in this way before death.
• 4 The cause of the extreme variability of rate of fall in pH, observed in pig muscle in ordinary commercial practice, must therefore be sought in the excitement and struggling, produced before and during slaughter by the methods employed, that is to say in the variable intensity of the nervous stimuli reaching the muscles.
• 5 It has been experimentally shown that brief electrical stimulation of the excised muscles from the curarised pigs produces not only an immediate increase in the rate of pH fall and of biochemical change, but also has a long-term accelerating effect, lasting two or more hours, so that the overall rate of change in the stimulated muscles is increased to nearly twice that of the unstimulated muscles. This long-term effect seems to be unique to pig muscle and does not occur in the muscles of rats, rabbits or frogs, which were the muscles of choice in the classical studies of the chemical changes during contraction.
• 6 The bearing of the stimulation effect on the variability of pH fall in commercial practice, and thus on the potential occurrence of pale and watery meat on the carcass, is discussed in detail.

     

Effect of South African beef production systems on post-mortem muscle energy status and meat quality

Post-slaughter muscle energy metabolism meat colour of South African production systems were compared; steers (n = 182) of Nguni, Simmental Brahman crossbreds were reared on pasture until A-, AB-, or B-age, in feedlot until A–AB-age. After exsanguination carcasses were electrically stimulated (400 V for 15 s). M. longissimus dorsi muscle energy samples were taken at 1, 2, 4 and 20 h. Post-mortem samples for meat quality studies were taken at 1, 7 and 14 days post-mortem. Production systems affected muscle glycogen, glucose, glucose-6-P, lactic acid, ATP, creatine-P glycolytic potential (P < 0.05), with the muscles of feedlot carcasses having a faster glycolysis rate than pasture carcasses. Energy metabolites correlated (0.4 < r < 0.9) with meat colour (CIE, L*a*b*), (0.3 < r > 0.5) water holding capacity, drip loss, and Warner Bratzler shear force. Muscle energy only affected muscle contraction of the A-age-pasture system (shortest sarcomere length of 1.66 μm vs 1.75 μm highest WBS of 6 kg vs 5 kg 7 days post-mortem).     

低聚壳聚糖对生长育肥猪抗氧化性能、脂类代谢和肌肉品质的影响

研究低聚壳聚糖对生长育肥猪抗氧化性能、脂类代谢和肌肉品质的影响。结果表明:与对照组相比,低聚壳聚糖组可显著提高血清总抗氧化能力,其中40mg/kg低聚壳聚糖组达到极显著水平(P<0.01);对血清过氧化氢酶活性、丙二醛浓度和谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性无显著影响(P>0.05);可降低血清中总胆固醇、高密度脂蛋白胆固醇和低密度脂蛋白胆固醇的含量,但差异均不显著(P>0.05);20mg/kg低聚壳聚糖能显著提高宰后眼肌L*45min(P<0.05),显著降低眼肌a*45min和a*24h(P<0.05),40mg/kg低聚壳聚糖也能显著降低眼肌a*24h(P<0.05),但两者对眼肌熟肉率、蒸煮损失、失水率、滴水损失和pH值无显著影响(P>0.05)。低聚壳聚糖以40mg/kg添加量较好。     

宰后不同温度处理对牛背最长肌AMPK活性、糖酵解及肉品质的影响

为研究宰后早期不同温度处理对牛肉中一磷酸腺苷活化蛋白激酶(AMPK)活性、糖酵解进程及肉品质的影响,探讨了AMPK是否参与糖酵解及牛肉品质的调控。选取牛背最长肌在宰后早期进行不同温度(0、14℃)处理,分别测定pH值、AMPK活性、糖酵解指标和肉品质指标。结果表明,宰后早期14℃处理牛背最长肌的pH值下降速率、糖原分解速率、乳酸积累速率及肉的保水性和嫩度显著高于0℃处理组(p0.05);在宰后2、4 h时2个处理组AMPK活性差异极显著(p0.01);14℃处理组比0℃处理组的AMPK较早地达到最大活性,其丙酮酸激酶也较早地达到最大活性。结果说明,在宰后牛肉中AMPK可能通过介导丙酮酸激酶的活性而调节糖酵解速率进而影响肉品质。     

Muscle pH(60), colour (L, a, b) and water-holding capacity and the influence of post-mortem meat temperature

The use of the pH(60) and colour parameters (L, a, b) as chilled pork drip loss predictors 24 h post-mortem as well as the influence on this meat characteristic of an early blast cooling regime (90 min post-mortem) were investigated. Despite the best correlation found with pH(60) (-0·647), both indicators were found to be poor for this purpose, it being impossible to use them alone for pork quality classification (PSE/DFD status). Comparing the evolution between the drip losses on chilled and early deep frozen (-60°C) longissimus dorsi pork cuts, the results indicate that both the thawing regime and the time the samples stay in refrigeration, influence the observed trends significantly. The general drip loss enhancement seen after thawing as well as the increasing meat toughness, judged subjectively, must be due to cold-shortening and/or thaw rigor phenomena.     

Effect of pre-rigor stretch and various constant temperatures on the rate of post-mortem pH fall, rigor mortis and some quality traits of excised porcine biceps femoris muscle strips

Porcine biceps femoris strips of 10 cm original length were stretched by 50% and fixed within 1 hr post mortem then subjected to temperatures of 4 °, 15 ° or 36 °C until they attained their ultimate pH. Unrestrained control muscle strips, which were left to shorten freely, were similarly treated. Post-mortem metabolism (pH, R-value) and shortening were recorded; thereafter ultimate meat quality traits (pH, lightness, extraction and swelling of myofibrils) were determined. The rate of pH fall at 36 °C, as well as ATP breakdown at 36 and 4 °C, were significantly reduced by pre-rigor stretch. The relationship between R-value and pH indicated cold shortening at 4 °C. Myofibrils isolated from pre-rigor stretched muscle strips kept at 36 °C showed the most severe reduction of hydration capacity, while paleness remained below extreme values. However, pre-rigor stretched myofibrils - when stored at 4 °C - proved to be superior to shortened ones in their extractability and swelling.     

Development of an autonomous, wireless pH and temperature sensing system for monitoring pig meat quality

This paper focuses on the development of a unique wireless pH and temperature monitoring system to assess pig meat quality. Pale, soft and exudative (PSE) pig meat continues to be a major problem in the pig meat industry today. The PSE condition in pork is related to a number of factors including genetics, pre-slaughter stress and insufficient chilling of pig carcasses, which cause a rapid rate of glycolysis post-mortem (<1h). As a result the pH drops to low levels while the muscle temperature is still high. A wireless dual channel system that monitors pH and temperature simultaneously has been developed to provide pH and temperature data of the carcass during the first 24h after slaughter. We have demonstrated that this approach can distinguish in real time, pH and temperature profiles that are 'non-normal', and identify carcasses that are PSE positive quickly and easily.     

凹凸棒石黏土对生长育肥猪生产性能、金属含量及肉品质的影响

研究凹土原土及热改性凹土对生长育肥猪生产性能、金属含量和肉品质的影响。选用体重约47kg健康"杜×长×大"三元杂交的生长育肥猪60头,随机分为3组,每组4个重复。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组饲喂在基础日粮中添加2%凹土原土、2%热改性凹土的试验日粮。结果表明:1)凹土原土和热改性凹土对生长育肥猪生产性能无显著影响(P0.05);2)凹土原土和热改性凹土降低血液中As、Pb、Cr含量和腿肌中Cr的含量(P0.05),热改性凹土显著提高血液中Mg含量(P0.05);3)凹土原土降低眼肌MDA(P0.05),凹土原土和热改性凹土降低眼肌中T-AOC的活性(P0.05);4)凹土原土提高眼肌p H45 min、a*45 min(P0.05),降低L*45 min、b*24 h和压力损失(P0.05)。添加凹土原土和热改性凹土能降低重金属在动物机体中的沉积、提高抗氧化能力进而改善肉品质,热改性凹土效果优于原土。     

Effect of post-mortem temperature on beef tenderness

Beef adductor muscles were incubated for 4 h post mortem at 10°C and for 4 h and 6 h post mortem at 30°C, 37°C and 42°C. Half of the muscles were cooked just after incubation and the other half was first stored for two days at 4°C and then cooked. Meat kept for 4 h or 6 h at 42°C and for 6 h at 37°C and cooked at once had a significantly (p<0·05) lower shear force than meat kept for 4 h at 37°C, 4 h at 30°C, 6 h at 30°C or 4 h at 10°C. The respective significant differences were also found when the meat was cooked two days after incubation. Organoleptic evaluation showed that meat incubated for 6 h at 37°C or for 4 h at 42°C was not significantly more tender than other samples. However, meat kept for 6 h at 42°C was more tender (p<0·5) than the other samples. After two days of storage, meat incubated for 6 h at 37°C and for 6 h at 42° was more tender (p<0·05) than meat kept for 6 h at 30°C. It was concluded that high temperature conditioning at 37°C or higher for 6 h (4 h at 42°C) just after slaughter makes meat more tender than conventional cooling systems.     

Effect of feed texture, meal frequency and pre-slaughter fasting on carcass and meat quality, and urinary cortisol in pigs

The gelation characteristics of myofibrillar proteins are indicative of meat product texture. Defining the performance of myofibrillar proteins during gelation is beneficial in maintaining quality and developing processed meat products and processes. This study investigates the impact of pH on viscoelastic properties of porcine myofibrillar proteins prepared from different muscles (semimembranosus (SM), longissimus dorsi (LD) and psoas major (PM)) during heat-induced gelation. Dynamic rheological properties were measured while heating at 1 °C/min from 20 to 85 °C, followed by a holding phase at 85 °C for 3 min and a cooling phase from 85 to 5 °C at a rate of 5 °C/min. Storage modulus (G′, the elastic response of the gelling material) increased as gel formation occurred, but decreased after reaching the temperature of myosin denaturation (52 °C) until approximately 60 °C when the gel strength increased again. This resulted in a peak and depression in the thermogram. Following 60 °C, the treatments maintained observed trends in gel strength, showing SM myofibrils produced the strongest gels. Myofibrillar protein from SM and PM formed stronger gels at pH 6.0 than at pH 6.5. Differences may be attributed to subtle variations in their protein profile related to muscle type or postmortem metabolism. Significant correlations were determined between G′ at 57, 72, 85 and 5 °C, indicating that changes affecting gel strength took effect prior to 57 °C. Muscle type was found to influence water-holding capacity to a greater degree than pH.     

Effect of exercise on skeletal muscle proteolytic enzyme activity and meat quality characteristics in Iberian pigs

The effects of physical activity on performance, carcass traits, Psoas major lysosomal and exoprotease acitivies and meat quality were studied in 24 castrated male Iberian pigs during the last fattening period (from 111.1±SD: 5.2kg). Pigs were randomly distributed in three groups. Two groups receiving the same diet were reared in confinement, one housed in individual pens of 8m(2) (sedentary group) and the other was housed outdoor with daily (up to 2km) forced walking (exercise group). And one group was reared under the traditional production system walking daily several km and fed mostly with acorn from Quercus ilex and Quercus rotundifolia and grass (free-range group). No differences were found in performance and carcass traits. In exercised pigs a lower activity of cathepsin B+L and total cathepsins (P<0.05) was observed. Exercise induced the inhibition of dipeptidyl peptidases II and III and arginyl aminopeptidase and the activation of dipeptidyl peptidases IV and leucyl aminopeptidase (P<0.05). Although no effects on total free amino acids in Psoas major muscle were observed the concentration of branched chain amino acids decreased in the free-range pig group probably related to an increase in physical activity. Exercise had no effects in Psoas major postmortem tenderness and water holding capacity.