Effect of Low Voltage Electrical Stimulation on the Meat Quality Attributes of Beef of Western Baggara Bulls, Sudan

Abstract

A study was designed to examine the effectiveness of low voltage (80 V) electrical stimulation (ES) in improving meat quality of the western Baggara bulls. Twenty-eight beef bulls, 5-6 years old and of live weights ranging between 320 and 350 kg were used. Fourteen were subjected to ES with 80V, 10 minutes post-slaughter for 30 seconds and 14 were unstimulated (NES) as control. The pH and temperature were monitored every hour for the first 10 hours and subsequently at 24 hours. Carcasses were chilled at 2˚C for 24 hours and Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle samples were dissected between the 9th and 12th rib, for analysis. The low voltage ES resulted in a significantly (P≤0.05) rapid pH decline, while the muscle temperature was still higher at the first 3hour post-mortem than the control. ES had no significant (P>0.05) effect on the proximate chemical composition (protein, fat, moisture and ash) and the lightness (L*) - colour co-ordinate of the LD muscle. The percentage of extractable myofibrillar proteins increased significantly (P≤0.05) but redness (a*) and yellowness (b*) decreased significantly (P≤0.05) in the ES muscles. The colour, flavour, tenderness and juiciness panel scores increased significantly (P≤0.05) in ES LD muscles in contrast with the NES ones. The application of ES to beef carcasses from elderly western Baggara bulls enhanced meat tenderness and could be beneficial for the meat industry by increasing the value and quality of this sort of carcass.