Relationships between ultimate pH and microbial, chemical, and physical characteristics of vacuum-packaged pork loins.

This study evaluated the effect of ultimate pH (pHu) of pork on shelf life based upon microbial growth, drip loss, and oxidative rancidity (2-thiobarbituric acid [TBA] procedure) in vacuum-packaged loins stored at 4 degrees C. Glucose and lactate concentrations of the pork loins were also measured. Thirty-six pork loins (pH = 5.56 to 6.57) were collected at a commercial slaughter facility 1-d postslaughter. All pigs were from the same genetic line. Loins were grouped by pH (group: pH range): A: 5.55 to 5.70, B: 5.71 to 5.85, C: 5.86 to 6.00, D: 6.01 to 6.15, and E: > 6.16. They were analyzed at days 0, 6, 14, 24, and 34. For aerobic plate counts, groups A and B were significantly lower than C through E, while psychrotrophic or Enterobacteriaceae counts of groups A and A through C were significantly lower than groups B through E and D and E, respectively. Lactic acid bacteria counts were not significantly influenced by pHu. Group A had higher glucose concentrations than groups C through E and higher lactate concentrations than groups D through E on most sampling days. Group A had a higher TBA value than group E at days 0 and 34. Group A displayed greater drip loss than groups D and E at day 6 and groups B through D on days 24 and 34. Based on the microbial and drip loss results, a pork loin pHu of 5.8 to 5.9 appears to be optimum to provide a vacuum-packaged shelf life of at least 24 d with minimum drip loss.

The influence of ultimate pH and intramuscular fat content on pork tenderness and tenderization.

Intramuscular fat (IMF) and ultimate pH (pHu) influence tenderness, but their roles have not been conclusively determined. Length of storage also affects tenderness and may interact with IMF and pHu. We evaluated the effects of pHu, IMF, and storage time on the tenderness of pork longissimus muscle and determined whether the contribution of the various factors was dependent on genetic line. To obtain variation in IMF, Berkshire (B), Duroc (D) and Hampshire (H) boars were crossed with Yorkshire-Landrace sows. In four trials, a total of 176 pigs were used. To obtain a range in pHu, half of the pigs were deprived of feed before slaughter. Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBS) of each loin was assessed after 2, 7, and 14 d of storage at 0 to 2 degrees C. Warner-Bratzler shear force decreased (P < 0.05) from 4.89 kg at d 2 to 4.16 kg at d 7 to 3.52 kg at d 14. The H pork (n = 62) had a lower (P < 0.05) WBS than the other pork at d 2. After 7 d of storage, this difference had disappeared. Based on glycolytic potential, 30 of the H pigs were carriers of the Rendement Napole (RN) gene. When these pigs were excluded from the analysis, there was no difference in tenderness or tenderization of H, D, and B pork. The correlation between IMF and WBS was -0.11 at d 2, -0.21 at d 7, and -0.19 at d 14. In D pork, the relationship between IMF and WBS was linear, and IMF accounted for 47% of the differences in WBS. In H and B pork, the relationship between IMF and WBS was not significant. For each cross, the relationship between pHu and WBS was different; in D pork it was quadratic, in H pork WBS increased linearly, and in B pork there was no significant relationship between WBS and pHu. The 30 kDa/actin ratio, a measure of myofibrillar degradation, increased (P < 0.05) during storage. Differences in 30 kDa/actin ratio did not explain differences in pork tenderness or tenderization. Further research on determinants and mechanisms of pork tenderness and pork tenderization is needed before production of consistently tender pork will be possible.

Characteristics of pale, soft, exudative broiler breast meat.

The objective of the study was to characterize pale breast meat, compare it with normal colored breast meat, and determine whether it should be considered pale, soft, and exudative (PSE). Characteristics of 20 normal and 20 pale broiler breasts, obtained at a commercial slaughter plant, were evaluated. Compared with normal meat, the pale breast meat had a significantly (P < 0.05) lower pH (5.7 vs. 5.9), higher color L* value (60.0 vs. 55.1), higher drip loss (1.34 vs. 0.87%), lower marinade uptake (31.2 vs. 44.3%), and lower cooking yields (95.2 vs. 105.8%). Protein solubility in pale samples was slightly (P < 0.05) lower than in normal samples, which suggests increased protein denaturation in the pale breasts. Correlations between pH and L* value (r = -0.76), pH and marinade uptake (r = 0.64), sarcoplasmic protein solubility and L* value (r = -0.71), and sarcoplasmic protein solubility and moisture uptake (r = 0.66) and cooking yield (r = 0.66) were significant (P < 0.05). Correlations between total protein solubility and moisture uptake or cooking yields were not significant. The low ultimate pH of pale breast muscle appears to be the main determinant of its low water-holding capacity (WHC). This lower pH was unrelated to a higher lactate concentration or glycolytic potential of the pale muscle. Further research is needed to determine the causes of the low pH and possible measures to increase the pH (and functionality) of pale broiler breast muscle. Because the pale breast muscle has a low WHC, it can be considered PSE.

Denaturation of myofibrillar proteins from chickens as affected by pH, temperature, and adenosine triphosphate concentration.

The susceptibility to denaturation of myofibrillar protein from chicken muscles was investigated and compared with denaturation of myofibrillar protein from pork. Immediately postmortem, the Pectoralis profundus (white muscle) and the Pubo-ishio femorale (red muscle) of six Arbor Acres chickens were collected. The Semimembranosus (white muscle) and Psoas major (red muscle) of three Yorkshire x Landrace and three Yorkshire x Landrace x Duroc pigs were collected at 45 min postmortem. Protein denaturation was prevented by keeping the muscles at 0 to 2 C in a buffer (pH 7.2) containing ethylene glycol-bis (beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (EGTA) (to sequester Ca ions). After purification, myofibrils were incubated at 25 or 40 C, pH 5.4 or 6.5, with 0, 0.68, or 3.4 mM adenosine triphosphate (ATP). Protein solubility, an indicator of denaturation, was assessed after 0, 10, 20, and 60 min incubation. Protein solubility of chicken pectoralis myofibrils was not affected by any of the conditions. In the other myofibrils, pH 5.4 caused significantly (P < 0.05) more protein denaturation than pH 6.5, and incubation at 40 C resulted in significantly more protein denaturation than incubation at 25 C. The presence of ATP (tested at pH 6.5) affected denaturation; higher ATP concentrations resulted in increased loss of solubility. We concluded that chicken red myofibrillar proteins are equally susceptible to denaturation as are pork red and white myofibrils. Chicken pectoralis (white) muscle fibers are least susceptible to denaturation. The results of this study indicate that factors other than protein denaturation are responsible for the low water-holding capacity of pale, soft, exudative chicken breast muscle.

Use of electrical conductivity to predict water-holding capacity in post-rigor pork.

This study was designed to re-examine the interrelationships among ultimate pH (pH(u)), electrical conductivity (EC) and water-holding capacity (WHC), and to test if EC, using one of two EC instruments, and pH(u) can be used to predict WHC. The % drip (PD) was used as measure of WHC. Forty-seven pork loins were classified either as PSE (pale, soft, exudative), RSE (reddish-pink, soft, exudative), RFN (reddish-pink, firm, non-exudative) or DFD (dark, firm, dry), based on L* values, PD and pH(u.) The measurement of EC, conducted using the instrument developed at the University of Wisconsin-Madison (UW-EC) was highly correlated to PD at 24 h post mortem (CD=66%), but the pH (NWK) measure of EC was not as highly related to WHC as UW-EC. The predictive value of pH(u) and EC for WHC were similar. When 47 samples were divided into three different groups, such as low (< 2% drip), medium (2-6% drip) and high (> 6% drip) drip loss, UW-EC alone grouped 80% of the samples correctly. Thus, EC seemed to be an accurate predictor of WHC in pork muscle when measured at 24 h post mortem. It is conceivable that EC can be used independently, or with even better success in combination with pH(u), to classify WHC of pork carcasses.

Glycolytic potential of red, soft, exudative pork longissimus muscle.

Red, soft, exudative (RSE) pork is red as "normal" pork and exudative as PSE pork. The origin of RSE quality is unknown. In the present study, we determined whether the occurrence of RSE pork is related to the presence of the RN (Rendement Napole) gene. A glycolytic potential [= 2 x (glucose + glycogen + glucose-6-phosphate) + lactate] of > 180 micromol lactate/g of meat was used as indicator for presence of the RN gene. At 1 d postmortem, pork loin samples were collected at a commercial slaughter plant, and meat quality characteristics and glycolytic potential were determined. Glycolytic potential of RSE pork (n = 42) was higher (P < .01) than that of RFN (red, firm, nonexudative) pork (n = 25): 137 vs 110 micromol lactate/g of muscle. The glycolytic potential of PSE pork (n = 28) was 161 micromol lactate/g of muscle, which was higher (P < .01) than the glycolytic potential of RFN or RSE pork. Using a glycolytic potential of 180 micromol lactate/g of muscle as suggestive for the presence of the RN gene, four (10%) of the RSE samples were from RN carriers. By the same criterion, the PSE group contained nine (32%) RN gene carriers. These results suggest that the occurrence of RSE quality is not related to the presence of the RN gene.

Influence of swine genotype on fatty acid composition of phospholipids in longissimus muscle.

Our objective for this study was to determine whether there is a difference in the fatty acid composition of phospholipids in longissimus muscle from pigs of different genotypes. In Exp. 1, 15 Hampshire x Yorkshire-Landrace (YL), 15 Duroc x YL, and 15 Danbred x YL were used. Animals were of similar age and were fed identical diets. In Exp. 2, longissimus muscle samples from pigs of seven genetically different lines were analyzed. In both experiments, saturated fatty acids (SFA, 16:0 and 18:0) constituted approximately 31.5% of the total fatty acids. Monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA, 18:1 and 20:1) levels ranged from 12.3 to 16.9%, and PUFA (mainly 18:2 and 20:4) accounted for 50.8 to 57.0% of the total fatty acids. Fatty acid composition of muscle phospholipids from Duroc and Hampshire x YL pigs was identical. Muscle phospholipids from Danbred x YL pigs contained more PUFA (approximately 3%, P < .05) and less SFA (approximately 2%, P < .05) than phospholipids from the two other genotypes. Differences in SFA and PUFA of muscle from the seven lines were of the same order of magnitude. Differences in MUFA content were not significant.

In vitro reversal of glutathione-S-transferase-mediated resistance in canine osteosarcoma (COS31) cells.

BACKGROUND: In this report we describe the establishment, characterization, and research utility of a cell line derived from a dog having a spontaneously occurring osteosarcoma (COS) made resistant to the cytotoxic effects of cisplatin chemotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Established cells from passage 31 (COS31) were exposed to increasing sublethal concentrations of cisplatin in vitro. RESULTS: A 2.2-fold increase in glutathione-S-transferase (GST) activity was found to be induced in this cell line (COS31/rCDDP) compared to parent cells. Furthermore, these cells were 7.8-fold more resistant to the cytotoxic effects of higher concentrations of cisplatin compared to parent cells. Ethacrynic acid was found to inhibit GST enzymatic activity and increase cisplatin cytotoxicity in resistant COS31 (COS31/rCDDP) cells. CONCLUSIONS: Inhibiting the function of GST with ethacrynic acid pretreatment in humans and dogs with osteosarcoma may result in more tumor cells than normal cells killed in vivo by cisplatin, thus significantly prolonging lifespan without increasing host toxicity.

Can pale, soft, exudative pork be prevented by postmortem sodium bicarbonate injection?

Previous attempts at eliminating the problem of PSE pork by genetic selection or rapid postmortem cooling have been only partially successful. A new approach, namely, postmortem injection of sodium bicarbonate (SBC), was tested on halothane-positive gilts. Sixteen pigs were used to establish a suitable SBC concentration. At approximately 15 min after death, the longissimus of one side of the carcass was injected with 10% (by weight) of .2 to .4 M SBC solutions containing .7% NaCl (wt/vol). All concentrations resulted in a higher ultimate pH, improved muscle color, and reduced drip loss. In a second experiment, with 23 pigs, .3 M SBC was injected into the longissimus and the biceps femoris at either 15 min or 24 h after death and with or without inclusion of .7% NaCl (wt/vol). Compared with controls, the 15-min SBC + NaCl injected samples had darker color (L* of 47 vs 53 in controls), higher ultimate pH (5.6 vs 5.3), lower drip loss (5% vs 10%), and increased protein solubility (140 vs 115 mg/g). Injection at 24 h reduced drip loss (from 10% to 5.7%) but did not correct the color defect. The SBC alone and SBC + NaCl treatments had essentially the same effects in reducing drip loss, increasing ultimate pH, and improving color; but the SBC-NaCl injected samples had improved juiciness and flavor compared with SBC. Early postmortem sodium bicarbonate injection seems to prevent the development of PSE pork when injected into carcasses of halothane-sensitive pigs.

Is colour brightness (L-value) a reliable indicator of water-holding capacity in porcine muscle?

A total of 265 pork carcasses representing a broad variation in quality was used to examine the relationship between colour (L-value) and water-holding capacity (WHC) in the longissimus thoracis et lumborum. Thirty-four samples appeared to possess 'normal' reddish pink colour (L-value 52·0-58·0) but had 'unacceptable' WHC (>5·0% drip loss). Conversely, 25 samples were pale in colour (L-value >58·0) but were 'acceptable' in WHC. When muscles were dark (L-value 52·0) the WHC was always acceptable. Some samples were subjected to further analysis. Variations in iron content, haematin content, sarcomere length and degree of soluble protein denaturation failed to explain why brightness and WHC were not more closely related. When L-value and WHC were compared to pH(45) (pH, 45 min post mortem), WHC exhibited a biphasic relationship to pH(45) whereas L-value did not. These results indicate that WHC and brightness are determined by independent pre-rigor biological phenomena, strengthening the argument that brightness is not necessarily a reliable predictor of WHC. Researchers selecting pork for specific investigations, or commercial companies using fresh pork for either further processing or for retail, should not rely on colour brightness alone to insure that other quality properties such as WHC and firmness will also be acceptable.

Pork quality and the expression of stress protein Hsp 70 in swine.

The expression of heat shock protein with a molecular weight of 70 kDa (Hsp 70) in porcine tissue and its potential relationship to stress susceptibility was studied. Twelve pigs, four of each genotype (NN, Nn, and nn) for halothane sensitivity were slaughtered. At 45 min postmortem, several tissues (liver, kidney, spleen, skeletal and cardiac muscle, and adrenal gland) were sampled for Hsp 70 analysis. At 24 h postmortem, longissimus and semimembranosus muscle were sampled for assessment of meat quality. Water-holding and water-binding capacity, color, and protein denaturation of samples from halothane-positive animals indicated that these animals had been stressed. Homozygous nn pigs demonstrated a lower pH45 and higher L-value at 48 h than their NN and Nn counterparts (P < .05). The longissimus, but not semimembranosus, muscle of nn pigs demonstrated lower water-holding capacity and greater protein denaturation than that of NN or Nn pigs (P < .05). The water-binding capacity of both longissimus and semimembranosus was less in nn than in Nn or NN pork (P < .05). Using one-dimensional PAGE and Western blotting, Hsp 70 was shown to be present in all tissues examined. With two-dimensional PAGE followed by blotting, the presence of the cognate and inducible form of Hsp 70 was investigated. There did not seem to be a relationship between stress (based on meat quality) and expression of either form of Hsp 70.

The effectiveness of examining early post-mortem musculature to predict ultimate pork quality.

Variations in pork quality reflect value differentials. However, only when they can be easily, accurately, rapidly and cost-effectively detected, can swine producers expect to eliminate poor quality from their herds through genetic selection, and can the industry be expected to take the necessary environmental precautions to prevent poor quality. This study was designed to assess the effectiveness of various techniques thought to predict ultimate pork quality through the examination of the physical and chemical properties of early post-mortem (PM) musculature. Based on stiffness and pH 30, 285 carcasses were selected. This selection procedure ensured a wide variation in ultimate quality. Using 12 instruments simultaneously, temperature, stiffness, electrical properties, lightness properties, and pH 45 of the early PM longissimus thoracis et lumborum were recorded to predict ultimate quality. Based on post-rigor light reflection and water-holding capacity (WHC), quality was assigned to one of five arbitrary groups. Of all techniques tested, the only one with any potential for adequate prediction of quality categories was pH 45. Combination of different techniques did not significantly increase predictive values. For predicting quality of single carcasses, pH 45 should not be considered satisfactory. However, based on our success in selecting carcasses representing quality variation for this study and the results obtained from the study, using pH 45 and muscle stiffness to select groups of carcasses is feasible. We conclude that the techniques used early post mortem are not appropriate for predicting ultimate pork quality for single carcasses. At present we recommend that only post-rigor muscle be considered, and that ultimate pH, light reflection and a measure of WHC should be used.

Characterization and partial purification of a bacteriocin produced by Leuconostoc carnosum LA44A.

Twenty Leuconostoc strains isolated from vacuum packaged Vienna-type sausages were screened for antagonistic activity against various Gram-positive organisms (including Listeria spp.). One of the three strains exhibiting inhibitory activity was chosen for further investigation. This strain was identified as Leuc. carnosum and the inhibitory substance produced was named carnosin. Carnosin was inactivated by trypsin but not by catalase or other non-proteolytic enzymes tested. Carnosin retained activity after heating at 100 degrees C for 20 min, whereas heating at 121 degrees C for 15 min resulted in complete loss of activity. Carnosin was active at pH values ranging from 2 to 9. Carnosin activity was not detectable until cells were in the late log-phase of growth. At low temperatures (4 degrees C), higher cell densities were required before carnosin activity could be detected. Carnosin was active against various lactic acid bacteria, Enterococcus faecalis and Enterococcus faecium and against Listeria spp. Difficulties in purification were reduced by growing Leuc. carnosum in a modified MRS medium, having 50% of the normal peptone concentration and no Tween or meat extract. Sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of partially purified carnosin indicated that it has a molecular mass between 2510 and 6000 Da. Yet, retention of activity after exhaustive dialysis suggested a molecular mass > 14kDa. It is hypothesized that carnosin forms large active complexes which can be dissociated to small (active) components.

On the assessment of water-holding capacity of hot- vs cold-boned pork.

The effects of time of boning and storage period on creatine kinase (CK) activity, transmission value, drip losses and water-holding capacity (WHC) measured by various methods was investigated. At 40 min post-mortem 30 pig carcasses with pH values > 6·2 in the loin were selected. The right loin of each carcass was hot boned and vacuum packaged immediately. The left loin was cold boned and packaged after overnight chilling at 2 ± 2°C. After 1, 5 and 12 days of storage at 0 ± 1°C, 10 hot- and cold-boned loins were unpacked and sampled. Time of boning did not affect drip losses. At 1 day post-mortem the CK activity was higher in hot- than in cold-boned pork. Sarcomere lengths were not affected by time of boning. The WHC was investigated by two controlled methods. A filter-paper press method was not sensitive enough to assess differences in WHC of hot- vs cold-boned pork. The results of a gravimetric method depended on the sample location. Results of the gravimetric test decreased with increasing storage periods. The results suggest that under the experimental conditions the chilling rates of hot-boned vs carcass-attached muscles were similar.

Colour stability of bovine Longissimus and Psoas major muscle as affected by electrical stimulation and hot boning.

From eight electrically stimulated and eight non-stimulated cows the righthand-side longissimus and psoas major muscles were hot boned within 1 1 2 h post mortem, vacuum packaged and chilled and storred at 1±1°C. Immediately after slaughter, the lefthand carcass-sides were blast-chilled for 1 1 2 h and subsequently chilled at 1±1°C until the following day. After cold boning, the longissimus and psoas major muscle were packaged, chilled and stored as the hot boned muscles. After 12 days of storage, steaks, cut from the primals, were displayed at 1±1°C under continuous illumination (300-400 lx). Colour measurements after 0, 2 and 4 days of display revealed a significant (p<0·10) effect of time of boning on non-stimulated psoas major muscle (lower values for a (∗), b (∗) values, chroma and %R630-%R580). Significant effects of electrical stimulation were not observed. Changes in hue tended to be more pronounced when the meat had been stimulated. Changes in chroma were largest (p<0·10) is non-stimulated, hot boned psoas muscle. Analysis of variances showed that in the longissimus muscle significant effects (p<0·10) of time boning and electrical stimulation were present. The effect of time of boning was often influenced by the use of electrical stimulation. Changes in hue and chroma indicated that hot boned samples had a higher colour stability than cold boned controls, especially when the carcasses had not been stimulated electrically. The observed differences in colour stability were rather small in all treatment groups and are not expected to present any practical merchandising problem.

The effect of electrical stimulation, time of boning and high temperature conditioning on sensory quality traits of porcine Longissimus dorsi muscle.

The effects of electrical stimulation (300 V, 1 A, 50 Hz, AC, 30 s) and high temperature conditioning (4h/15°C) on sensory quality traits of hot- and cold-boned, vacuum-packaged longissimus dorsi muscle of halothanenegative pigs were assessed at 12 days post mortem. Electrical stimulation accelerated the pH fall significantly, but had negligible effects on all quality traits measured, i.e. shear force, drip formation, fresh meat colour, cooking loss and degree of sarcoplasmic protein denaturation (p > 0·05). As compared with cold boning, hot boning significantly lowered drip losses (p < 0·05). Shear forces, which increased as a result of hot boning (p < 0·05), were reduced again through a 4 h/15°C conditioning period before chilling at 1 ±1°C. In addition, high temperature conditioning resulted in significantly lower drip losses (p < 0·05). It is suggested that prevention of cold-induced reduction of proteolytic enzyme activity is primarily responsible for both these findings.