Journal article
Effects of stimulation on tenderness of lamb with a focus on protein degradation
Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, Vol.46(7), pp.891-896
2006
Abstract
Past studies have identified that electrical stimulation systems not only affect the pH–temperature decline of lamb carcasses, but also affect the tenderness of the product. It is unknown whether these differences are due to the effects of an optimal pH–temperature decline path by which the occurrence of shortening is decreased and proteolytic enzyme activity is increased, or by another mechanism, such as disruption of the muscle myofibres. This study attempted to elucidate this by placing control and mid-voltage electrically stimulated samples of the M. longissimus thoracis et lumborum in a water bath to prevent shortening by imposing an even pH–temperature decline on all samples. In order to obtain a complete understanding of the effects of stimulation on the muscle, samples were taken for indicators of tenderness, myofibre degradation and protein breakdown. No effect of stimulation was seen on tenderness and structural degradation measures aside from the expected rapid lowering of muscle pH. Interesting relationships were observed, however, between the different methods of meat tenderness assessment, with muscle structural protein degradation, shear force and muscle fibre and myofibre breakdown comparisons. These results suggest that the effects of electrical stimulation seen in mid-voltage systems as applied in this study are due only to the prevention of shortening conditions.
Details
- Title
- Effects of stimulation on tenderness of lamb with a focus on protein degradation
- Authors/Creators
- K.M. Martin (Author/Creator) - University of New EnglandD.L. Hopkins (Author/Creator) - Australian Sheep Industry Cooperative Research Centre, Chiswick, New England Highway, Armidale, NSW 2350, Australia.G.E. Gardner (Author/Creator) - Murdoch UniversityJ.M. Thompson (Author/Creator) - University of New England
- Publication Details
- Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculture, Vol.46(7), pp.891-896
- Publisher
- CSIRO Publishing
- Identifiers
- 991005544583107891
- Copyright
- 2006 CSIRO
- Murdoch Affiliation
- School of Veterinary and Biomedical Sciences
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
Metrics
48 Record Views
InCites Highlights
These are selected metrics from InCites Benchmarking & Analytics tool, related to this output
- Collaboration types
- Domestic collaboration
- Citation topics
- 3 Agriculture, Environment & Ecology
- 3.51 Dairy & Animal Sciences
- 3.51.206 Meat Quality
- Web Of Science research areas
- Agriculture, Multidisciplinary
- ESI research areas
- Agricultural Sciences