Register      Login
Animal Production Science Animal Production Science Society
Food, fibre and pharmaceuticals from animals
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Open Access)

Impacts of hanging method and high pre-rigor temperature and duration on quality attributes of ovine muscles

Y. H. B. Kim A E F , M. Kerr B , G. Geesink C and R. D. Warner D
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A AgResearch Ltd, Ruakura Research Centre, Hamilton, New Zealand.

B Department of Primary Industries, 600 Sneydes Road, Werribee, Vic. 3030, Australia.

C University of New England, Armidale, NSW 2351, Australia.

D CSIRO Animal, Food and Health Sciences, 671 Sneydes Road, Werribee, Vic. 3030, Australia.

E Present address: Purdue University, Department of Animal Sciences, Muscle Biology Lab, West Lafayette, IN 47907, USA.

F Corresponding author. Email: bradkim@purdue.edu

Animal Production Science 54(4) 414-421 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN13309
Submitted: 22 July 2013  Accepted: 21 January 2014   Published: 28 February 2014

Journal Compilation © CSIRO Publishing 2014 Open Access CC BY-NC-ND

Abstract

This study evaluated effects of high pre-rigor temperature and duration and suspension of lamb sides on quality traits and protein denaturation in two muscles [semimembranosus (SM) and longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL)]. Twenty-four lamb carcasses, within each of 3 slaughter days, were used to assign eight carcasses to one of four pre-rigor temperature treatments: chilled at 2°C directly after slaughter, or held at 37°C in water for 1.5, 3.0 or 4.5 h before transfer to a 2°C chiller. At ~15 min post slaughter, one side of each carcass was suspended from the Achilles tendon, whereas the other side was suspended by the aitch bone and the leg tied down to the ribs. The sides subjected to aitch bone hanging had an increased sarcomere length in the SM, but decreased sarcomere length in the LTL. For the LTL, the time of exposure to high pre-rigor temperature had a significant effect on measures of protein denaturation and related meat quality traits such as purge and colour, although tenderness (shear force) after 2 days of aging was not affected. For the SM, the high temperature treatment also resulted in increase in measures of protein denaturation and thus negatively influenced meat quality traits such as purge, colour and shear force after aging. However, these effects on purge and shear force in the SM were significantly mitigated by the aitchbone hanging treatment. The results of the present experiment indicate that pre-rigor aitchbone hanging of muscles can counteract the negative effects of high pre-rigor temperature on both water loss and meat tenderness.


References

Bekhit AED, Farouk MM, Cassidy L, Gilbert KV (2007) Effects of rigor temperature and electrical stimulation on venison quality. Meat Science 75, 564–574.
Effects of rigor temperature and electrical stimulation on venison quality.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3Mbns1amtg%3D%3D&md5=1c089d2e2c53750300287af5f86e53f0CAS |

Bouton PE, Harris PV, Shorthose WR (1975) Possible relationships between shear, tensile, and adhesion properties of meat and meat structure. Journal of Texture Studies 6, 297–314.
Possible relationships between shear, tensile, and adhesion properties of meat and meat structure.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Carter SG, Karl DW (1982) Inorganic phosphate assay with malachite green: an improvement and evaluation. Journal of Biochemical and Biophysical Methods 7, 7–13.
Inorganic phosphate assay with malachite green: an improvement and evaluation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaL3sXkvFykug%3D%3D&md5=f5faa8b4566e41fd2980b917e35eeba8CAS | 7153458PubMed |

Devine CE, Wahlgren NM, Tornberg E (1999) Effect of rigor temperature on muscle shortening and tenderisation of restrained and unrestrained beef M. longissimus thoracicus et lumborum. Meat Science 51, 61–72.
Effect of rigor temperature on muscle shortening and tenderisation of restrained and unrestrained beef M. longissimus thoracicus et lumborum.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3MbnsVWqtA%3D%3D&md5=0fa670a2c0be3f3e48dbef00926751beCAS | 22061537PubMed |

Devine CE, Payne SR, Peachey BM, Lowe TE, Ingram JR, Cook CJ (2002) High and low rigor temperature effects on sheep meat tenderness and ageing. Meat Science 60, 141–146.
High and low rigor temperature effects on sheep meat tenderness and ageing.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22063237PubMed |

Geesink GH, Bekhit AD, Bickerstaffe R (2000) Rigor temperature and meat quality characteristics of lamb longissimus muscle. Journal of Animal Science 78, 2842–2848.

GenStat Committee (2008) ‘Genstat for Windows.’ 11th edn. (VSN International: Hertfordshire, UK)

Gornall AG, Bardawill CJ, David MM (1949) Determination of serum protein by means of biuret reaction. The Journal of Biological Chemistry 177, 751

Greaser ML, Cassens RG, Briskey EJ, Hoekstra WG (1969) Post-mortem changes in subcelllular fractions from normal and pale, soft, exudative porcine muscle. 2. Electron microscopy. Journal of Food Science 34, 125–132.
Post-mortem changes in subcelllular fractions from normal and pale, soft, exudative porcine muscle. 2. Electron microscopy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Hwang IH, Park BY, Cho SH, Lee JM (2004) Effects of muscle shortening and proteolysis on Warner-Bratzler shear force in beef longissimus and semitendinosus. Meat Science 68, 497–505.
Effects of muscle shortening and proteolysis on Warner-Bratzler shear force in beef longissimus and semitendinosus.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BD2cXlsVSmu7o%3D&md5=47c3afc94e61d28200f7ed6c2a3e3db9CAS | 22062419PubMed |

Jaime I, Beltrán JA, Ceña P, López-Lorenzo P, Roncalés P (1992) Tenderisation of lamb meat: effect of rapid postmortem temperature drop on muscle conditioning and aging. Meat Science 32, 357–366.
Tenderisation of lamb meat: effect of rapid postmortem temperature drop on muscle conditioning and aging.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3MbntlSqtQ%3D%3D&md5=89c3c4e2c797083706a0d3bba594d11dCAS | 22059887PubMed |

Kim YH, Lonergan SM, Huff-Lonergan E (2010) Protein denaturing conditions in beef deep semimembranosus muscle results in limited µ-calpain activation and protein degradation. Meat Science 86, 883–887.
Protein denaturing conditions in beef deep semimembranosus muscle results in limited µ-calpain activation and protein degradation.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC3cXhtFCrurnE&md5=4becf077926d7fe23677f72d367918a4CAS | 20674187PubMed |

Kim YHB, Stuart A, Nygaard G, Rosenvold K (2012) High pre rigor temperature limits the ageing potential of beef that is not completely overcome by electrical stimulation and muscle restraining. Meat Science 91, 62–68.
High pre rigor temperature limits the ageing potential of beef that is not completely overcome by electrical stimulation and muscle restraining.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DC%2BC38XjtVCmsLg%3D&md5=1f902cbe6afe74ff48f6d5b2ac116177CAS |

Lee YB, Ashmore CR (1985) Effect of early postmortem temperature on beef tenderness. Journal of Animal Science 60, 1588–1596.

Locker RH, Hagyard CJ (1963) A cold shortening effect in beef muscles. Journal of the Science of Food and Agriculture 14, 787–793.
A cold shortening effect in beef muscles.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaF2cXlsFOiug%3D%3D&md5=ebcef65dee72d68932c06451127cd7e1CAS |

Marsh BB, Lochner JV, Takahashi G, Kragness DD (1981) Effects of early post-mortem pH and temperature on beef tenderness. Meat Science 5, 479–483.
Effects of early post-mortem pH and temperature on beef tenderness.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3MbmvVGmsg%3D%3D&md5=79ed9b14424f73b0dd7be364e1a8c99dCAS | 22054608PubMed |

Marsh BB, Ringkob TP, Russell RL, Swartz DR, Pagel LA (1987) Effects of early-postmortem glycolytic rate on beef tenderness. Meat Science 21, 241–248.
Effects of early-postmortem glycolytic rate on beef tenderness.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3MbmvVymtA%3D%3D&md5=21c2e1f7a8e8a703443160d9a9db41daCAS | 22055055PubMed |

Matthews K (2011) Evaluation of the pH fall in English lamb abattoirs against the Meat Standards Australia pH/temperature window, Report to EBLEX. Available at http://www.eblex.org.uk/wp/wp-content/uploads/2013/04/evaluationofthephfallinenglishlambabattoirs_271011-final-report.pdf [Verified 6 February 2014]

Offer G (1991) Modelling of the formation of pale, soft and exudative meat: Effects of chilling regime and rate and extent of glycolysis. Meat Science 30, 157–184.
Modelling of the formation of pale, soft and exudative meat: Effects of chilling regime and rate and extent of glycolysis.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK3MXmslygu7Y%3D&md5=ab78c2132e3b69fa280d2bb8d1e81744CAS | 22061833PubMed |

Pearce KL, Van De Ven R, Mudford CR, Warner RD, Hocking-Edwards JE, Pethick DW, Hopkins DL (2010) Case studies demonstrating the optimisation of medium voltage electrical stimulation of lamb carcases. Animal Production Science 50, 1107–1114.
Case studies demonstrating the optimisation of medium voltage electrical stimulation of lamb carcases.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Rosenvold K, Wiklund E (2011) Retail colour display life of chilled lamb as affected by processing conditions and storage temperature. Meat Science 88, 354–360.
Retail colour display life of chilled lamb as affected by processing conditions and storage temperature.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 21316158PubMed |

Rosenvold K, North M, Devine C, Micklander E, Hansen P, Dobbie P, Wells R (2008) The protective effect of electrical stimulation and wrapping on beef tenderness at high pre rigor temperatures. Meat Science 79, 299–306.
The protective effect of electrical stimulation and wrapping on beef tenderness at high pre rigor temperatures.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 22062758PubMed |

Ruddick JE, Richards JF (1975) Comparison of sarcomere length measurement of cooked chicken pectoralis muscle by laser diffraction and oil immersion microscopy. Journal of Food Science 40, 500–501.
Comparison of sarcomere length measurement of cooked chicken pectoralis muscle by laser diffraction and oil immersion microscopy.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Savell JW, Mueller SL, Baird BE (2005) The chilling of carcasses. Meat Science 70, 449–459.
The chilling of carcasses.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:STN:280:DC%2BC3Mbns1Sisg%3D%3D&md5=9ca9d80413e7acb630edeb637dd809bfCAS | 22063744PubMed |

Thomson KL, Gardner GE, Simmons N, Thompson JM (2008) Length of exposure to high post-rigor temperatures affects the tenderisation of the beef M. longissmus dorsi. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture 48, 1442–1450.
Length of exposure to high post-rigor temperatures affects the tenderisation of the beef M. longissmus dorsi.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Warner RD, Kauffman RG, Greaser ML (1997) Muscle protein changes post mortem in relation to pork quality traits. Meat Science 45, 339–352.
Muscle protein changes post mortem in relation to pork quality traits.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar | 1:CAS:528:DyaK2sXisFyrtrY%3D&md5=7a2e794968870801cd62ddf945b9145dCAS | 22061472PubMed |

Warner RD, Dunshea FR, Gutzke D, Lau J, Kearney G (2014a) Factors influencing the incidence of high rigor temperature in beef carcasses in Australia. Animal Production Science 54, 363–374.
Factors influencing the incidence of high rigor temperature in beef carcasses in Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Warner RD, Kerr M, Kim YHB, Geesink G (2014b) Pre-rigor carcass stretching counteracts the negative effects of high rigor temperature on tenderness and water-holding capacity – using lamb muscles as a model. Animal Production Science 54, 494–503.
Pre-rigor carcass stretching counteracts the negative effects of high rigor temperature on tenderness and water-holding capacity – using lamb muscles as a model.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Wheeler TL, Shackelford SD, Koohmaraie M (2000) Variation in proteolysis, sarcomere length, collagen content, and tenderness among major pork muscles. Journal of Animal Science 78, 958–965.