Effects of breed, muscle type, and frozen storage on physico-chemical characteristics of lamb meat and its relationship with tenderness

Abstract

The effects of breed, muscle types, and frozen storage time on the physico-chemical characteristics of the two most important China breeds were considered. Twenty-four lambs of Bashbay and Xinjiang Merino sheep of 7–9 months old were slaughtered, respectively, and frozen for 1, 7, 15, or 30 days. The meat pH, water holding capacity (WHC), intramuscular fat, cooking loss, myofibrillar fragmentation index (MFI), moisture, shear force (SF), and connective tissue were measured at 24 h postmortem. These physico-chemical characteristics varied with breed and muscle types. Xinjiang Merino had a higher pH (P < 0.001) than Bashbay. M. supraspinatus had a higher pH (P < 0.001) compared to the M. gluteus and M. longissimus dorsi. The total and insoluble collagen and intramuscular fat were higher in Xinjiang Merino. As the time of frozen storage increased from 1 to 15 days, the intramuscular fat, cooking loss, WHC, and MFI in Xinjiang Merino increased gradually. SF and tenderness were improved.