PSV-8 Effects of Injectable Vitamin C Immediately Prior to Transit Before Slaughter on Meat Color

The objective was to evaluate the effects of injectable vitamin C (VC) at transit before slaughter on meat color. The prevalence of dark-cutting beef can be exacerbated by transit and environmental conditions resulting in a less desirable product to consumers. Angus × Simmental steers (n = 48; BW = 670 ± 47 kg) were utilized in a completely randomized design. Steers were stratified by BW within pen and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments: an intramuscular injection of saline immediately prior to transit (CON), or an intramuscular injection of VC (15 g sodium ascorbate) immediately prior to transit (VITC). Blood was collected prior to treatment injection to assess plasma ascorbate status. Following pre-transit treatment injections, steers were transported for approximately 6 h (639 km) and slaughtered at a commercial abattoir. At 24 h postmortem, surface color readings were measured using a HunterLab Miniscan EZ spectrophotometer and marbling scores were evaluated on the left and right longissimus muscle. Data were analyzed using the MIXED and GLIMMIX procedures of SAS 9.4 with fixed effects of treatment, truck, and sire, and random effect of carcass side. Pre-transit plasma ascorbate, body weight, and marbling score were used as covariates. No treatment differences were observed for L* (lightness), a* (redness), and b* (yellowness) values (P > 0.16). Hue angle, saturation index, and prevalence of dark cutters (6% of total carcasses) were not affected by treatment (P > 0.78). Initial plasma ascorbate concentrations did not differ between treatments (P = 0.85) but increased with BW (r = 0.39; P ≤ 0.01). Body weight was correlated (r=0.24 to 0.28; P < 0.02) with HunterLab L*, a*, b*, and saturation index values. Overall, injectable VC administered prior to transit to a harvest facility did not impact meat color of beef steers 24 h postmortem.