TY - JOUR
T1 - Extending the grazing period for bulls, prior to finishing on a concentrate ration: Composition, collagen structure and organoleptic characteristics of beef
AU - Mezgebo, Gebrehawerya B.
AU - Monahan, Frank J
AU - McGee, Mark
AU - O'Riordan, Edward G.
AU - Marren, Declan
AU - Listrat, Anne
AU - Picard, Brigitte
AU - Richardson, R. Ian
AU - Moloney, Aidan P.
PY - 2019/7/23
Y1 - 2019/7/23
N2 - The biochemical and organoleptic characteristics of longissimus thoracis muscle from suckler bulls (n = 56) raised on a concentrate-based system (C) or a pasture-based system (P) incorporating 99 (P99), 162 (P162) or 231 days (P231) of grazing prior to indoor finishing on the concentrate-based diet were investigated. Age at slaughter increased with increasing period at pasture. Intramuscular fat concentration was lower (P < 0.001) for P99 than for C, P162 and P231 bulls, which did not differ. Soluble collagen proportion was lower (P < 0.01) for P162 and P231 than for P99 and C bulls. Collagen cross-link content was higher (P < 0.05) for P231 than for P99 and C bulls and for P162 than for C bulls. The proportion of type I muscle fibres was higher (P < 0.01) for P231 and P162 than for P99 and C bulls. Sensory tenderness was higher (P < 0.001) for C and P162 than for P99 and P231 bulls and overall liking was higher (P < 0.01) for C than for P99 and P231 bulls but similar to P162 bulls. Extending the grazing period to 162 days did not negatively influence the sensory qualities of beef compared to the intensive concentrate-based system.
AB - The biochemical and organoleptic characteristics of longissimus thoracis muscle from suckler bulls (n = 56) raised on a concentrate-based system (C) or a pasture-based system (P) incorporating 99 (P99), 162 (P162) or 231 days (P231) of grazing prior to indoor finishing on the concentrate-based diet were investigated. Age at slaughter increased with increasing period at pasture. Intramuscular fat concentration was lower (P < 0.001) for P99 than for C, P162 and P231 bulls, which did not differ. Soluble collagen proportion was lower (P < 0.01) for P162 and P231 than for P99 and C bulls. Collagen cross-link content was higher (P < 0.05) for P231 than for P99 and C bulls and for P162 than for C bulls. The proportion of type I muscle fibres was higher (P < 0.01) for P231 and P162 than for P99 and C bulls. Sensory tenderness was higher (P < 0.001) for C and P162 than for P99 and P231 bulls and overall liking was higher (P < 0.01) for C than for P99 and P231 bulls but similar to P162 bulls. Extending the grazing period to 162 days did not negatively influence the sensory qualities of beef compared to the intensive concentrate-based system.
KW - Beef, fat score, intramuscular fat, fibre type, sensory quality
U2 - 10.3390/foods8070278
DO - 10.3390/foods8070278
M3 - Article (Academic Journal)
C2 - 31340599
VL - 8
SP - 278
JO - Foods
JF - Foods
SN - 2304-8158
IS - 7
ER -