Influence of ultimate pH on biochemistry and quality of <i>Longissimus lumborum</i> steaks from Nellore bulls during ageing
C. Baron, Priscila R. dos Santos-Donado, Patricia Maloso Ramos, Carlos M. Donado‐Pestana, Eduardo Francisquine Delgado, Carmen J. Contreras‐Castillo
Abstract
Abstract Ultimate pH (pHu) is an indicator that influences post-mortem meat quality. We studied physiological and biochemical changes of steaks obtained from Nellore bulls (Bos indicus) during post-mortem ageing. To this, Longissimus lumborum (LL) muscles were classified into three groups: Normal-pHu (≤5.79), Intermediate-pHu (5.80–6.29) and High-pHu (≥6.30) groups, portioned into steaks, vacuum packaged and matured at 2 °C for 0, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days. High-pHu steaks exhibited impaired colour stability and were darker compared to the other groups. High- and Normal-pHu steaks showed improved tenderness and myofibrillar fragmentation linked to proteolysis. Intermediate-pHu steaks were associated with a lower meat tenderness and decreased collagen solubility. High-pHu steaks retained a high pH during ageing and increased water-holding capacity. These findings provide evidence that highlight pHu as a strategy for the classification of pHu-dependent beef quality from Nellore bulls that can be adopted by the Brazilian meat industry.