Objective measurement of veal color for classification purposes.

2300 veal calves were used to compare the ability of chromameters to measure the veal meat color on-line and to develop a relationship between instrumental and visual assessments to predict the color score according to the EC-system of classification. The meat color was assessed subjectively by 3 trained judges and objectively by 2 chromameters CR300 and CR310, 45 min post mortem on the Rectus abdominis, on the external side, skin having been removed. R(2) values reached 0.70 for the CR300 and 0.75 for the CR310. The equations of prediction classified correctly up to 87% of carcasses. These data indicate that chromameters (Minolta CR310 and CR300) can be used on-line to measure objectively veal meat color at the end of the slaughterline.