Age, sex, and chilling effects on goat meat

Abstract

Production and processing factors that affect native goat meat quality are non-existent in the literature. The current study explored age, sex, and chilling effects on 48 goat carcasses cut in half by halal standards and shifting one half immediately to a walk-in chiller at 0-4°C [rapid chilling (RC)] and the other half at 26 ± 2°C [delayed chilling (DC)]. Results showed that Warner Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF) was significantly affected by RC. Cooking loss and color (L*) parameters were significantly higher in young male animals. Chroma values were significantly higher in DC. In conclusion, DC enhances meat quality and tenderness.