Influence of age and method of carcass suspension on meat quality attributes of pure bred Ankole bulls

TY - JOUR

T1 - Influence of age and method of carcass suspension on meat quality attributes of pure bred Ankole bulls

AU - Kamatara, K.

AU - Mpairwe, D.

AU - Christensen, M.

AU - Eskildsen, Carl Emil Aae

AU - Mutetikka, D.

AU - Muyonga, J.

AU - Mushi, D.

AU - Omagor, S.

AU - Nantongo, Z.

AU - Madsen, Jørgen

PY - 2014

Y1 - 2014

N2 - This study investigated the effect of age at slaughter, pre-rigour carcass suspension and their interaction on meat quality of longissimus dorsi from Ankole bulls. Ankole bulls (45) were evenly distributed into three age groups (2, 3 or 5 years). Immediately after slaughter, carcasses were weighed, halved and sides were either suspended in the Achilles tendon or pelvic bone until 48. h postmortem. Carcass weights, grades and fat scores increased (P<0.001) with increasing age. Pelvic suspended sides had lower (P<0.001) chilling and cooking loss than Achilles-suspended sides across all age groups. Collagen solubility decreased (P<0.001), while shear force increased (P<0.001) with increasing age. Pelvic suspension decreased shear force across all age groups and the decrease was more pronounced in 5 year old bulls. The present study indicates that pelvic suspension is beneficial in eliminating the age-induced increase in toughness in longissimus thoracis from Ankole bulls.

AB - This study investigated the effect of age at slaughter, pre-rigour carcass suspension and their interaction on meat quality of longissimus dorsi from Ankole bulls. Ankole bulls (45) were evenly distributed into three age groups (2, 3 or 5 years). Immediately after slaughter, carcasses were weighed, halved and sides were either suspended in the Achilles tendon or pelvic bone until 48. h postmortem. Carcass weights, grades and fat scores increased (P<0.001) with increasing age. Pelvic suspended sides had lower (P<0.001) chilling and cooking loss than Achilles-suspended sides across all age groups. Collagen solubility decreased (P<0.001), while shear force increased (P<0.001) with increasing age. Pelvic suspension decreased shear force across all age groups and the decrease was more pronounced in 5 year old bulls. The present study indicates that pelvic suspension is beneficial in eliminating the age-induced increase in toughness in longissimus thoracis from Ankole bulls.

U2 - 10.1016/j.livsci.2014.09.018

DO - 10.1016/j.livsci.2014.09.018

M3 - Journal article

SN - 1871-1413

VL - 169

SP - 175

EP - 179

JO - Livestock Science

JF - Livestock Science

ER -