J. Anim Sci.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

J. Anim Sci. 1971. 33:933-938.
© 1971 American Society of Animal Science
This Article
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Right arrow reprints & permissions
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Hunsley, R. E.
Right arrow Articles by Burroughs, W.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Hunsley, R. E.
Right arrow Articles by Burroughs, W.

Effects of Age and Sex on Quality, Tenderness and Collagen Content of Bovine Longissimus Muscle

R. E. Hunsley1, R. L. Vetter, E. A. Kline and W. Burroughs2

Iowa State University, Ames,3 50010

Abstract

The effects of age and sex on quality, tenderness and collagen content of bovine longissimus muscle were studied in 20 male calves selected from the same herd and slaughtered at 6, 9, 12, 15 and 18 months of age. Age and sex were of equal importance in affecting muscle tenderness. Steaks from the 6- and 18-month groups were generally more tender than steaks from the 9-, 12- and 15-month groups when evaluated by the Warner-Bratzler shear instrument or a trained taste panel. Younger animals had significantly larger ribeyes and less backfat per unit of chilled carcass weight than older animals.

Connective tissue residues isolated from the longissimus muscle of the 6- and 9-month groups contained a higher (P<.05) percentage moisture than similar residues from the 15- and 18-month groups. Protein content of the connective tissue residue increased gradually with increasing age of the animal. The 6- and 9-month groups had a higher (P<.05) collagen content in the connective tissue residue than did the two oldest (15 and 18 months) groups. A low correlation was found between tenderness measures and collagen content of bovine beef muscle from the various age groups. Collagen, measured as hydroxy-proline, was not a critical measure of longissimus muscle tenderness.

Footnotes

1 Present address: Department of Animal Sciences, Lilly Hall, Purdue University, Lafayette, Indiana 47907.

2 The authors wish to express their appreciation to G. D. Harter for suggestions and assistance in the statistical analysis of these data.

3 Journal Paper No. J-6844. Iowa Agriculture and Home Economics Experiment Station, Ames, Iowa, Project No. 1762.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1971 by the American Society of Animal Science.