The effect of shower time, electrolyte treatment, and electrical stimulation on meat quality of cattle longissimus thoracis muscle in cold weather

Abstract

The effects of three treatments (two levels each), namely shower time (ST), electrolyte treatment (ET), and electrical stimulation (ES), on meat quality were investigated using 112 cattle which were randomly allocated to different combinations of each treatment level. ST2, compared with ST1, increased ultimate pH from 6.05 to 6.23 and blood adrenaline levels while deteriorating beef color. ST2 also improved the water-holding capacity (WHC), exhibiting more immobilized water and less free water. Finally, it promoted protein unfolding and the conversion of α-helix to random coil, thus producing tenderer beef. In contrast, results indicated that ET either decreased pHu in ST1 groups or relieved pre-slaughter stress in ST2 groups. ES accelerated pH1 drop with maximum efficiency in an ST1-ET combination, but it did not alter pHu. In addition, ES decreased WHC with an enlarged relaxation time for bound water while causing beef tenderization through protein unfolding. ST1-ET(-ES/NES) maximized pHu reduction and provided an alternative for dark-cutting prevention in cold weather.