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An experiment was conducted for 111 days in the summer of 2002/2003 to compare the effect of grazing lambs on condensed tannin-containing Lotus corniculatus L. (cv. Grasslands Goldie; n = 12) and perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture (PRG/WC; Lolium perenne/Trifolium repens; n = 12) on the concentration of indole and skatole in rumen fluid, blood plasma and body fat and upon the odour of the fat. Rumen fluid and blood samples were obtained on days 0, 22, 58, 87 and 111 of the experiment. Fat from inter-muscular and tail-stub depots was obtained at slaughter. During the experiment the mean concentration of indole and skatole in both the rumen fluid and blood plasma was lower for lambs grazing L. corniculatus compared to PRG/WC pastures. The concentration of skatole in the tail-stub fat was lower and less variable (P

Condensed tannin in the form of a grape seed extract (GSE) was dosed to weaned wether lambs fed white clover (WC) or perennial ryegrass (PRG) over a 9-week period to determine whether the ‘pastoral’ flavour and odour of meat could be altered. The concentrations of the pastoral flavour compounds indole and skatole were determined in the rumen fluid, blood plasma and intermuscular fat. The odour and flavour of fat and meat from the slaughtered lambs was assessed by a trained panel. The rumen fluid and blood plasma concentrations of indole and skatole were higher in those lambs fed WC compared to PRG (P < 0.05) and the overall meat flavour intensity was greater when feeding WC (P < 0.01). The observed concentration of indole and skatole in the fat between WC and PRG feeding treatments was not statistically different. Power analysis indicated that increasing the number of lambs per treatment group from 20 to 65 would result in a higher fat skatole concentration (P < 0.05) being detected in lambs fed WC compared to PRG. Dosing with GSE gave a small reduction in skatole concentration in the rumen fluid and reduced plasma concentration of indole and skatole (P < 0.001). Odour and flavour scores of the fat and meat samples were not particularly high however, dosing with GSE lowered the overall and sweet odour and the sheepy, camphor, faecal and barnyard flavour (P < 0.05). Although the plasma concentration of indole and skatole suggests that GSE reduced indole and skatole formation, the intermittent supply of the GSE to the rumen environment was not sufficient to reduce their concentration in the fat. Hence, the small difference in the scores for pastoral odour and flavour attributes associated with GSE treatment may arise from other unknown factors. From a primary investigation, there was no difference in the concentration of indole and skatole in fat samples collected from carcasses before and after chilling. Further investigations into meat pastoral flavour are warranted through feeding condensed tannin-containing forages. Copyright © 2007 Society of Chemical Industry

A comprehensive set of quality parameters has been recorded for meat and fat from groups of castrate and ram lambs raised on pasture and slaughtered in groups of six at 91‐day intervals from 122 to 668 days of age. These include mechanical evaluation of meat tenderness, sensory evaluations of meat flavour and fat odour, and measurements of fat colour, fatty acid composition, vitamins C and E, free glucose and iron in the meat, and of the concentrations of the flavour compounds indoles, phenols, and branched chain fatty acids in the fat. There was significant variation in many parameters between slaughter days, including markedly lower meat tenderness in one slaughter group, probably in response to unfavourable pasture conditions. Older ram lambs tended to be less tender than castrates of the same age. However, no longer‐term age‐related trends were observed in tenderness or flavour quality. Concentrations of free glucose in rigor muscle and vitamin C showed a declining trend with age. Concentrati...

Effective electrical stimulation parameters for breast muscle of poultry deboned at the end of the processing line were determined. For experimental studies, 14.3 half sine‐wave pulses per s, 80 V peak, 10 ms duration were applied for 60 s between head and cloaca of birds removed after stunning and bleeding and then returned to the processing line. Some birds were held at a constant temperature to determine rates of pH fall. Electrical stimulation caused a fall in pH of 0.26 pH units. The rate of pH fall was accelerated, so that at 20°C, ultimate pH after stimulation was reached in 120 min versus 300 min for no stimulation and at 40°C, ultimate pH after stimulation was reached in 220 min versus 80 min for no stimulation. Unrestrained muscle entering rigor mortis at 40°C shortened by 25.4% and when entering rigor mortis at 20°C shortened by 7.6% with the mean shear force being 13.42 and 8.13 kg F, respectively. The effectiveness of electrical stimulation was determined by comparing the shortening ...

New Zealand’s geographic position remote from Northern Hemisphere markets is an extra challenge that the meat industry has had to address to remain internationally competitive. Traditionally, New Zealand exported most of its sheepmeat frozen. However, in a drive to market table-ready cuts of beef and lamb, a carbon dioxide controlled atmosphere packaging system was developed so raw product could be shipped chilled (−1.5°C) and yet maintain a hygienic storage life of at least 16 weeks. One advantage of this type of storage is that the meat has sufficient time to tenderize during transport. This process, known as ‘ageing’, is also important for the development of meat flavor (Bouton et al., 1958).