title: Early on-line classification of beef carcasses based on ultimate pH by near infrared spectroscopy.
abstract: Prediction of ultimate pH (measured 48 h post mortem; pH(u)) in beef from Visible-near infrared (VIS-NIR) spectra collected 20 to 40 min post mortem was assessed. Spectra were collected from carcasses (cows: n = 86, bulls: n = 170, steers: n = 363, and heifers: n = 38) in a commercial hot boning abattoir under routine conditions. Partial Least Squares (PLS) models showed limited accuracy with RMSE for validation equal to 0.26, 0.20 and 0.36 for the All-animals, Non-bulls and Bulls models, respectively. The pH(u)-PLS-predicted values were used to segregate carcasses as normal (pH(u)<5.8) or high (pH(u) ≥ 5.8) showing better performance, by correctly classifying at least 90% of high pH(u) carcasses. The Non-bulls model was equivalent to the current technology used in the abattoir to classify carcasses based on pH(u). Thus near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) could be used for on-line classification of beef carcasses based on pH(u).
authors.affiliation: AgResearch Limited, Ruakura Research Centre, East Street, Private Bag 3123, Hamilton, New Zealand. Electronic address: marlon.m.reis@agresearch.co.nz.
authors.forename: Marlon M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: Reis
authors.forename: Katja
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Rosenvold
mesh_terms: D000003:Abattoirs; D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003116:Color; D005260:Female; D006863:Hydrogen-Ion Concentration; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D008297:Male; D008460:Meat / Q000032:analysis / Q000145:classification*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000737:chemistry*; D019265:Spectroscopy, Near-Infrared
keywords: Beef; Hot carcass; NIR; NIRS; On-line; Ultimate pH