ISSN:
1750-3841
Source:
Blackwell Publishing Journal Backfiles 1879-2005
Topics:
Agriculture, Forestry, Horticulture, Fishery, Domestic Science, Nutrition
,
Process Engineering, Biotechnology, Nutrition Technology
Notes:
This study was undertaken to assess the effectiveness of electrical stimulation as a means of speeding postmortem metabolism as measured by. ATP (adenosine triphosphate) depletion in delay-chilled bovine carcasses. Six animals of similar weight and age were used. Electrical stimulation was initiated 30 min postmortem. The stimulated side received a DC square-wave pulse of a magnitude (peak) of 300∼ at 400 cps (frequency), with a duration of 0.5 msec, and a current of 1.9 amps. ATP measurements were taken at 8 time periods postmortem. Results indicated muscles from the stimulated sides of beef exhibited significantly faster reductions of ATP than unstimulated controls. Electrical stimulation is an effective means of speeding postmortem glycolysis. Shear force data taken on the same muscles showed increased tenderness from electrically stimulated sides. However, measurement of sarcomere lengths from the same muscles revealed no significant differences between electrically stimulated arid unstimulated sides. These data further suggested that some effect, in addition to the prevention of cold shortening, brought about the tenderization of the meat.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2621.1979.tb09107.x
Permalink