title: A dark, firm dry-like condition in turkeys condemned for cyanosis.
abstract: A case-control study (n = 130) was conducted on toms condemned for cyanosis. Color (CIE L*a*b*), pH, and physical characteristics were measured on the Pectoralis major at slaughter and after 24 h. Meat from carcasses condemned for cyanosis had dark, firm, dry-like traits. It was darker and redder and showed higher water-holding capacity, lower cooking loss, and higher gel strength than did controls. Perimortem pH was negatively correlated with the lightness (L*) of meat at the time of slaughter (r = -0.58) and at 24 h postmortem (r = -0.64), positively correlated with water-holding capacity (r = 0.73) and gel strength (r = 0.43) and negatively correlated with cooking loss (r = -0.50). Ultimate pH was negatively correlated with lightness (L*) of meat at slaughter time (r = -0.62) and at 24 h postmortem (r = 0.79) was positively correlated with water-holding capacity (r = 0.87) and gel strength (r = 0.61) and negatively correlated with cooking loss (r = -0.52). Tests based on pH and L* of the P. major were also assessed; tests based on pH had a sensitivity in the range of 0.79 to 0.89 and specificity (Sp) of 0.60 to 0.94. Tests based on L* showed sensitivity of 0.75 to 0.92, and specificity of 0.79 to 0.97. The repeatability of measurements varied from good (L*: rho = 0.6) to excellent (pH: rho = 0.92). Overall, turkey breast condemned for cyanosis showed dark, firm, dry-like traits. Tests based on color and pH are described as a means of identifying turkeys condemned for cyanosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Population Medicine, University of Guelph, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: J G
authors.initials: JG
authors.lastname: Mallia
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Barbut
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Vaillancourt
authors.forename: S W
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: S A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: McEwen
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003116:Color; D003490:Cyanosis / Q000662:veterinary*; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000592:standards*; D014422:Turkeys / Q000502:physiology*