Lamb loin tenderness is not associated with plasma indicators of pre-slaughter stress

S M Stewart; P McGilchrist; G E Gardner; D W Pethick

doi:10.1016/j.meatsci.2017.11.029

Lamb loin tenderness is not associated with plasma indicators of pre-slaughter stress

Meat Sci. 2018 Mar:137:147-152. doi: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2017.11.029. Epub 2017 Nov 23.

Authors

S M Stewart¹, P McGilchrist², G E Gardner³, D W Pethick³

Affiliations

¹ Murdoch University, School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, Western Australia 6150, Australia. Electronic address: S.Stewart@murdoch.edu.au.
² Murdoch University, School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, Western Australia 6150, Australia; University of New England, School of Environmental & Rural Science, New South Wales 2351, Australia.
³ Murdoch University, School of Veterinary & Life Sciences, Western Australia 6150, Australia.

PMID: 29197762
DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2017.11.029

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to test if associations exist between plasma indicators of acute and chronic stress and lamb loin Warner Bratzler Shear Force (WBSF). Blood was collected at exsanguination from 2877 lambs from the Meat and Livestock Genetic Research flock with a suite of indicators analysed. Loin (M. longissimus lumborum) WBSF was measured after 5days aging. Plasma indicators of stress did not relate to WBSF, however a positive association was found between WBSF and kill order, indicating that immediate pre-slaughter factors may be causing reduced tenderness in lamb. In addition, selection for decreased fat depth (PFAT) was associated with increased loin WSBF, indicating that genetic selection for increased carcass leanness is negatively affecting lamb loin tenderness.

Keywords: Lamb; Meat quality; Shear force; Stress; Welfare.

MeSH terms

Adipose Tissue
Animal Welfare
Animals
Biomarkers / blood
Breeding
Female
Male
Muscle, Skeletal
Red Meat / analysis*
Shear Strength
Sheep, Domestic / genetics
Sheep, Domestic / physiology*
Stress, Physiological*

Substances

Biomarkers