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


     

J. Anim Sci. 1976. 43:1198-1205.
© 1976 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 Reagan, J. O.
Right arrow Articles by Smith, G. C.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow Articles by Reagan, J. O.
Right arrow Articles by Smith, G. C.

Age-Related Traits Affecting the Tenderness of the Bovine Longissimus Muscle1

J. O. Reagan2, Z. L. Carpenter and G. C. Smith

Texas Agricultural Experiment Station, College Station, TX 77843

Abstract

Forty cattle, ranging in age from 10 months to 27 years at the time of slaughter, were assigned to one of three groups based on chronological age: group I = 305 to 1,033 days, group II = 1,332 to 2,927 days and group III = 3,635 to 9,828 days. The three age groups did not differ significantly in fat percentage, total collagen content, shear force value or sensory panel ratings for juiciness, tenderness and amount of connective tissue; however, samples from age group III had lower (P<.05) percentages of moisture and soluble collagen than samples from age group I. Increases in actual age were significantly associated with decreases in tenderness (initial tenderness rating, age group III; muscle fiber tenderness rating, age group III; amount of connective tissue rating, age group III and the complete population; shear force value, age group III and the complete population). Increased quantities of total collagen were associated with higher (P<.05) sensory panel ratings for juiciness and lower (P<.05) ratings for tenderness and amount of connective tissue; but total collagen content was not related to actual age of the animal. Percentages of soluble collagen and shear force values were positively associated with chronological age of the animal. Actual age and total collagen content were the most important independent variables in multiple regression equations designed to account for the observed variability in tenderness of the bovine longissimus muscle. In a selected subsample of the parent population, differences in sarcomere length were related (P<.05) to variations in juiciness, amount and solubility of connective tissue (ratings and chemical measures) and fat percentages. Sarcomere length was not associated with tenderness ratings or shear force values suggesting that this histological trait is not closely related to tenderness differences among animals of widely differing chronological age.

Footnotes

1 T.A. 12291 Meats and Meat Chemistry Section, Department of Animal Science, Texas Agricultural Experiment Station. This study was partially supported by a grant from King Ranch, Inc.

2 Present Address: Department of Food Science, University of Georgia, Athens.






HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Copyright © 1976 by the American Society of Animal Science.