Abstract
Animal and muscle characteristics were recorded for 41 cattle. The oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of M. semimembranosus was measured between 3.0–6.4h post mortem (PM3-6) and after 3weeks in a vacuum pack at 4°C. Colour change measurements were performed following the 3weeks using reflectance spectra (400–1100nm) and the colour coordinates L*, a* and b*, with the samples being packaged in oxygen permeable film and stored at 4°C for 167h.Significant individual animal differences in OCR at PM3-6 were found for mitochondrial complexes I and II. OCR of complex I declined with increased temperature and time PM, while residual oxygen-consuming side-reactions (ROX) did not. OCR of stored muscles was dominated by complex II respiration. A three-way regression between samples, colour variables collected upon air exposure and OCR of 3weeks old fibres revealed a positive relationship between OCR and complex II activity and also between OCR and OCRROX. The presence of complex I and β-oxidation activities increased metmyoglobin formation.
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