VARIATION IN MEAT QUALITY AT THREE SITES ALONG THE LENGTH OF THE BEEF LONGISSIMUS MUSCLE

Abstract

Variation in meat quality parameters (pH, color, shear force, expressible juice, drip loss) for the longissimus muscle at three sites (site 1 = 4–7th ribs, site 2 = 8–12th ribs, site 3 = 13th rib - 5th lumbar vertebra) was investigated in the right carcass sides from 80 steers. Muscle pH was similar for all three sites at 45 min and at 24 h postmortem. At 6 d, muscle pH was higher (P < 0.05) at site 1 than site 3. Visually assessed color scores were similar (P > 0.05) for all three sites. Minor differences were found for expressible juice and drip loss across the three sites. It was concluded that apart from shear force, quality variation at the three sites along the longissimus muscle was minor. Key words: Beef, longissimus, meat quality variation