Analysis of signals from a UV fluorescence probe for connective tissue in beef carcasses

Abstract

A manual probe to detect major septa of connective tissues in meat was developed using a single optical fiber both to excite and collect fluorescence. A dichroic mirror and optical filters were used to separate the primary light source from the photometer. The depth of the probe in the meat was monitored from a potentiometer. Indices of connective tissue distribution were greatly enhanced by using the minimum value in any transect as a reference level and by rejecting values of fluorescence below a level of signal minimum × 1.0125. Significant ( P < 0.005) differences between tough and tender cuts of meat from the same carcass were found for the frequency of fluorescence peaks, the area under the curve, mean peak fluorescence and mean half-peak width. The degree of disorder in the vector of probe depth measurements (caused by uneven penetration of the probe) also differed significantly ( P < 0.005) between tough and tender meat.