Effect of Rapid Chilling on Beef Quality and Cytoskeletal Protein Degradation in M. longissimus of Chinese Yellow Crossbred Bulls

Mao, Yanwei,Zhang, Yimin,Liang, Rongrong,Ren, Lulu,Zhu, He,Li, Ke,Zhu, Lixian,Luo, Xin Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2012 Animal Bioscience Vol.25 No.8

The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of rapid chilling (RC) on beef quality and the degradation of cytoskeletal proteins. Twenty Chinese Yellow crossbred bulls were selected and randomly divided into two groups. RC and conventional chilling (CC) were applied to left and right sides of the carcasses respectively after slaughtering. To determine whether electrical stimulation (ES) treatment can alleviate the potential hazard of RC on meat quality, ES was applied to one group. The effects of RC and ES were determined by meat color, shear force and cytoskeletal protein degradation postmortem (PM). The results showed that RC decreased beef tenderness at 1 d and 3 d postmortem, but had no detrimental effect on meat color. Western blotting showed that RC decreased the degradation rate of desmin and troponin-T, but the effects weakened gradually as postmortem aging extended. Degradation rates of both desmin and troponin-T were accelerated by ES. The combination of RC and ES could improve beef color, accelerate degradation rate of cytoskeletal protein and improve beef tenderness.

Models of Pseudomonas Growth Kinetics and Shelf Life in Chilled Longissimus dorsi Muscles of Beef

Zhang, Yimin,Mao, Yanwei,Li, Ke,Dong, Pengcheng,Liang, Rongrong,Luo, Xin Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2011 Animal Bioscience Vol.24 No.5

The aim of this study was to confirm Pseudomonas spp. as the specific spoilage organism (SSO) of chilled beef during aerobic storage and to establish a model to predict the shelf life of beef. Naturally contaminated beef was stored at $4^{\circ}C$, and the spoilage limit of Pseudomonas organisms was determined by measuring several quality indicators during storage, including the number of Pseudomonas organisms, total number of bacteria, total volatile basic nitrogen (TVBN) values, L value color scale scores and sensory evaluation scores. The beef was then stored at 0, 4, 7, 10, 15 or $20^{\circ}C$ for varying amounts of time, and the number of Pseudomonas organisms were counted, allowing a corresponding growth model to be established. The results showed that the presence of Pseudomonas spp. was significantly correlated to each quality characteristic (p<0.01), demonstrating that Pseudomonas spp. are the SSO of chilled beef and that the spoilage limit was $10^{8.20}$ cfu/g. The Baranyi and Roberts equation can predict the growth of Pseudomonas spp. in beef, and the $R^2$ value of each model was greater than 0.95. The square root model was used as follows, and the absolute values of the residuals were less than ${0.05:\;{\mu_{max}}^{1/2}$ = 0.15604 [T+(-0.08472)] (p<0.01), $R^2$ = 0.98, $\lambda^{-1/2}$ = 0.0649+0.0242T (p<0.01, $R^2$ = 0.94). The model presented here describes the impact of different temperatures on the growth of Pseudomonas spp., thereby establishing a model for the prediction of the shelf life of beef stored between 0 to $20^{\circ}C$.

Effect of different short-term high ambient temperature on chicken meat quality and ultra–structure

Minghao Zhang,Lixian Zhu,Yimin Zhang,Yanwei Mao,Mingyue Zhang,Pengcheng Dong,Lebao Niu,Xin Luo,Rongrong Liang 아세아·태평양축산학회 2019 Animal Bioscience Vol.32 No.5

Objective: This study investigated the effect of different acute heat stress (HS) levels on chicken meat quality and ultra-structure. Methods: Chickens were randomly divided into 7 groups to receive different HS treatments: i) 36°C for 1 h, ii) 36°C for 2 h, iii) 38°C for 1 h, iv) 38°C for 2 h, v) 40°C for 1 h, vi) 40°C for 2 h, and vii) un-stressed control group (25°C). Blood cortisol level, breasts initial temperature, color, pH, water holding capacity (WHC), protein solubility and ultra-structure were analyzed. Results: HS temperatures had significant effects on breast meat temperature, lightness (L*), redness (a*), cooking loss and protein solubility (p<0.05). The HS at 36°C increased L*24 h value (p<0.01) and increased the cooking loss (p<0.05), but decreased a*24 h value (p<0.05). However, as the temperature increased to 38°C and 40°C, all the values of L*24 h, cooking loss and protein denaturation level decreased, and the differences disappeared compared to control group (p> 0.05). Only the ultimate pH24 h at 40°C decreased compared to the control group (p<0.01). The pH in 36°C group declined greater than other heat-stressed group in the first hour postmortem, which contributed breast muscle protein degeneration combining with high body temperature, and these variations reflected on poor meat quality parameters. The muscle fiber integrity level in group 40°C was much better than those in 36°C with the denatured position mainly focused on the interval of muscle fibers which probably contributes WHC and light reflection. Conclusion: HS at higher temperature (above 38°C) before slaughter did not always lead to more pale and lower WHC breast meat. Breast meat quality parameters had a regression trend as HS temperature raised from 36°C. The interval of muscle fibers at 24 h postmortem and greater pH decline rate with high body temperature in early postmortem period could be a reasonable explanation for the variation of meat quality parameters.

The relationship between myofiber characteristics and meat quality of Chinese Qinchuan and Luxi cattle

Lu Xiao,Yang Yuying,Zhang Yimin,Mao Yanwei,Liang Rongrong,Zhu Lixian,Luo Xin 아세아·태평양축산학회 2021 Animal Bioscience Vol.34 No.4

Objective: The objectives of this study were to explore the expression patterns of myosin heavy chain (MyHC) genes of different skeletal muscles from Chinese cattle, and to investigate the relationship between myofiber characteristics and meat quality of M. longissimus lumborum (LL), M. psoas major (PM), and M. semimembranosus (SM) from Chinese Luxi and Qinchuan cattle. Methods: Three major muscles including LL, PM, and SM from Chinese Luxi cattle and Chinese Qinchuan cattle were used in this study. The myofiber characteristics were measured by histochemical analysis. The MyHC isoforms expression was evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Quality traits including pH value, meat color, cooking loss, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and sarcomere length were determined at day 5 postmortem. Results: PM muscle had higher pH value, a* value, sarcomere length and lower WBSF value compared to LL and SM muscles (p<0.05). Numbers of type I myofiber and the relative expression of MyHC I mRNA in PM muscle were higher than those of LL and SM muscles (p<0.05). Myofiber diameter of PM muscle was lower than that of LL and SM muscles, regardless of myofiber types (p<0.05). Conclusion: According to the stepwise linear regression analyses, tenderness was influenced by myofiber characteristics in all three examined muscles. Tenderness of beef muscles from Qinchuan and Luxi cattle could be improved by increasing numbers of type I myofiber. Objective: The objectives of this study were to explore the expression patterns of myosin heavy chain (<i>MyHC</i>) genes of different skeletal muscles from Chinese cattle, and to investigate the relationship between myofiber characteristics and meat quality of <i>M. longissimus lumborum</i> (LL), <i>M. psoas major</i> (PM), and <i>M. semimembranosus</i> (SM) from Chinese Luxi and Qinchuan cattle.Methods: Three major muscles including LL, PM, and SM from Chinese Luxi cattle and Chinese Qinchuan cattle were used in this study. The myofiber characteristics were measured by histochemical analysis. The MyHC isoforms expression was evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. Quality traits including pH value, meat color, cooking loss, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) and sarcomere length were determined at day 5 postmortem.Results: PM muscle had higher pH value, <i>a</i>* value, sarcomere length and lower WBSF value compared to LL and SM muscles (p<0.05). Numbers of type I myofiber and the relative expression of <i>MyHC I</i> mRNA in PM muscle were higher than those of LL and SM muscles (p<0.05). Myofiber diameter of PM muscle was lower than that of LL and SM muscles, regardless of myofiber types (p<0.05).Conclusion: According to the stepwise linear regression analyses, tenderness was influenced by myofiber characteristics in all three examined muscles. Tenderness of beef muscles from Qinchuan and Luxi cattle could be improved by increasing numbers of type I myofiber.

Bio-protective potential of lactic acid bacteria: Effect of Lactobacillus sakei and Lactobacillus curvatus on changes of the microbial community in vacuum-packaged chilled beef

Zhang, Yimin,Zhu, Lixian,Dong, Pengcheng,Liang, Rongrong,Mao, Yanwei,Qiu, Shubing,Luo, Xin Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2018 Animal Bioscience Vol.31 No.4

Objective: This study was to determine the bacterial diversity and monitor the community dynamic changes during storage of vacuum-packaged sliced raw beef as affected by Lactobacillus sakei and Lactobacillus curvatus. Methods: L. sakei and L. curvatus were separately incubated in vacuumed-packaged raw beef as bio-protective cultures to inhibit the naturally contaminating microbial load. Dynamic changes of the microbial diversity of inoculated or non-inoculated (control) samples were monitored at $4^{\circ}C$ for 0 to 38 days, using polymerase chain reaction-denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis (PCR-DGGE). Results: The DGGE profiles of DNA directly extracted from non-inoculated control samples highlighted the order of appearance of spoilage bacteria during storage, showing that Enterbacteriaceae and Pseudomonas fragi emerged early, then Brochothrix thermosphacta shared the dominant position, and finally, Pseudomonas putida showed up became predominant. Compared with control, the inoculation of either L. sakei or L. curvatus significantly lowered the complexity of microbial diversity and inhibited the growth of spoilage bacteria (p<0.05). Interestingly, we also found that the dominant position of L. curvatus was replaced by indigenous L. sakei after 13 d for L. curvatus-inoculated samples. Plate counts on selective agars further showed that inoculation with L. sakei or L. curvatus obviously reduced the viable counts of Enterbacteraceae, Pseudomonas spp. and B. thermosphacta during later storage (p<0.05), with L. sakei exerting greater inhibitory effect. Inoculation with both bio-protective cultures also significantly decreased the total volatile basic nitrogen values of stored samples (p<0.05). Conclusion: Taken together, the results proved the benefits of inoculation with lactic acid bacteria especially L. sakei as a potential way to inhibit growth of spoilage-related bacteria and improve the shelf life of vacuum-packaged raw beef.