Effects of relative humidity on dry-aged beef quality.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of relative humidity (RH) on moisture loss and flavor in dry-aged beef. Sixteen strip loins were assigned to one of the four aging treatments: vacuum (WET), dry-aging at 50% RH, dry-aging at 70% RH, or dry-aging at 85% RH and aged for 42 days at 2 °C. Loins were evaluated for evaporation loss, trim loss, tenderness, sensory, and microbiological characteristics.

Oxidative stress and postmortem meat quality in crossbred lambs.

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of different levels of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-mediated oxidative stress on fresh meat quality. Crossbred lambs (n = 29) were blocked by weight and fed a standard finishing ration for the duration of the study. Lambs were individually housed and treatment groups were administered one of three intravenous injections every 72 h across a three-injection (9-day) cycle: saline control (control), 50 ng LPS/kg body weight (BW) (LPS50), or 100 ng LPS/kg BW (LPS100).

Ultimate pH effects on dry-aged beef quality.

This study aimed to evaluate pH effects on moisture loss and meat quality characteristics of dry-aged beef. Strip loins from six normal pH carcasses (pH = 5.47 ± 0.

Impact of myoglobin oxygenation level on color stability of frozen beef steaks.

The emerging market of frozen meat emphasizes the need to better understand beef surface discoloration and the ideal parameters of freezing beef to retain an acceptable color. The objectives of this study were to determine the impacts of myoglobin oxygenation level prior to freezing and frozen storage duration on frozen beef color. USDA Choice strip loins (n = 36) were aged for 4 d or 20 d.

Quality effects on beef strip steaks from cattle fed high-protein corn distillers grains and other ethanol by-products.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of feeding high-protein corn distillers grains on fresh beef quality. Steers (n = 60) were fed one of five diets for 190 d (six pens with 10 cattle/pen/diet): a corn control (Control), 40% high-protein dry distillers grains plus solubles (HP-DDGS), 40% dry distillers grains plus solubles (DDGS), 40% wet distillers grains plus solubles (WDGS), or 40% bran plus solubles (Bran). Eighteen Choice carcasses (three cattle per pen) were randomly selected within each treatment; however, two carcasses were lost during carcass selection.

Feeding distillers grains to cattle may affect beef tenderness early postmortem.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of dietary fat source with modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) on beef tenderness through examination of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) membrane fatty acid composition, changes in sarcoplasmic calcium concentration, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), sarcomere length, and proteolysis early postmortem. Steers (n = 256) were fed for 134 d on either corn, or a diet containing 40% full-fat MDGS, 40% de-oiled MDGS, or 38% de-oiled MDGS plus 2% corn oil. Twenty-four USDA Choice carcasses (three carcasses per pen; eight pens per treatment) were selected within each dietary treatment, and strip loins were collected and aged for 2, 9, 16, or 23 d postmortem and subject to retail display (RD) for an additional 7 d.

Effects of dietary fat source on beef strip loin steak display life.

The effects of feeding different dietary fat sources with modified distillers grains plus solubles (MDGS) on beef display life were evaluated. Steers (n = 256) were fed for 134 d on either a corn, 40% full-fat MDGS, 40% de-oiled MDGS, or 38% de-oiled MDGS plus 2% corn oil diet. Twenty-four United States Department of Agriculture Choice carcasses (3 head/pen) were randomly selected within each dietary treatment and strip loins were collected and aged for 2, 9, 16, or 23 d.