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The influence of post‐mortem conditioning on the tenderness of Egyptian goose ( Alopochen aegyptiacus ) breast meat (M. pectoralis major)
Author(s) -
Geldenhuys Greta,
Muller Nina,
Hoffman Louwrens C
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
journal of the science of food and agriculture
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.782
H-Index - 142
eISSN - 1097-0010
pISSN - 0022-5142
DOI - 10.1002/jsfa.7344
Subject(s) - tenderness , goose , shear force , zoology , conditioning , myofibril , biology , pectoralis major muscle , anatomy , food science , chemistry , endocrinology , materials science , composite material , statistics , mathematics , paleontology
BACKGROUND Egyptian goose breast meat has been found to be very tough compared to the meat of other well‐known fowl species. In attempting to clarify the toughness of the meat, the physical and biochemical changes during post‐mortem conditioning (14 days) was investigated. RESULTS Although there was increased cathepsin (B, B & L and H) activity, together with a decrease ( P ≤ 0.05) in myofibrillar fragmentation lengths (32–25 µm) with conditioning, no change (decline) in shear force values was observed. The higher ( P ≤ 0.05) shear force of the male breast portions may be linked to the higher ( P ≤ 0.05) concentrations of total and insoluble collagen. CONCLUSIONS No significant change (decline) in shear force values was observed. Conditioning of Egyptian goose meat as a means of improving the overall toughness cannot therefore not be proposed. The higher shear force and lower sensory tenderness of the male breast portions, as previously observed, may be linked to higher concentrations of total and insoluble collagen. © 2015 Society of Chemical Industry