title: Response of bovine muscles to direct high voltage electrical stimuli.
abstract: Left sides of beef carcasses were stimulated (ES) using multiple-contact electrodes for both the positive and negative electrodes. These electrodes were attached to the carcass side in the neck and shoulder (arm) region (positive electrodes) and the hindquarter (round) region (negative electrodes). Stimulation was generated using 600 V, 60 Hz, 2·8 A alternating current for a duration of 2 min (impulses: 2 s on and 2 s off). Right sides served as controls. Carcass sides were chilled at 2°C. Stimulated sides showed a more rapid pH fall during the first 5 h post-stimulation in the longissimus dorsi, semimembranosus, semitendinosus, biceps femoris and triceps brachii (long head) muscles. Lower shear values for muscles in direct contact with the ES electrodes were observed compared to controls, except in the case of the semitendinosus muscle, where no difference was found. Data from the present study suggest that muscles, which quite often do not respond to ES and do not exhibit an improvement in tenderness, perhaps because they may not be located in the current pathway, can show improvements in tenderness if the current is distributed in the direction of these muscles. However, a muscle's response to the electrical stimuli, with the accompanying rapid decline in pH, does not necessarily ensure a significant improvement in tenderness.
authors: Meat Science Research Laboratory, Agricultural Research Service, USDA(∗)Beltsville, MD 20705, USA.
authors: M B
authors: MB
authors: Solomon