Color Attributes and Glycolytic Energy Metabolites of Meat From Light and Heavy Bovine Feedlot Carcasses Stimulated With Low-Voltage Electricity

Abstract

This study investigates the influence of timing and duration of low-voltage electrical stimulation (ES) as well as carcass weight, which are important factors affecting muscle glycolysis and meat color attributes. Longissimus samples from 147 cattle, representative of typical South African feedlot cattle, were assigned to 10 treatment groups according to the combination of carcass weight (small or heavy), time of ES (early [7 min] or late [45 min] postmortem), and duration of ES (30 or 60 s). Early ES and longer ES duration (60 s) produced the highest (P < 0.05) meat lightness (L*). The combination of early ES and heavier carcasses produced the highest (P < 0.05) chroma (C*) 2 d postmortem (butchery period). These results were corroborated by the energy metabolites, such that early stimulation produced the highest amount (P < 0.05) of muscle lactate, glucose, and glucose-6-phosphate, as well as the lowest glycogen, creatine phosphate, and adenosine triphosphate early postmortem. This shows that the application of low-voltage ES on heavier carcass is advantageous in terms of meat color, but the advantages diminish as ageing progressed from 2 to 14 d postmortem.