The influence of chop location on pork loin quality

Pork longissimus muscle quality characteristics were evaluated on 109 center cut boneless loins. After 21 d aging, loins were cut into 1-inch chops and allowed to bloom for 30 minutes before visual measurements (color, marbling and firmness) and instrumental color were recorded for each chop. Overall, visual color was the lightest on the anterior and posterior ends and was the darkest from approximately 50% to 80% of the length of the loin. Marbling was the highest at the posterior end, lowest in mid-loin, then higher toward the anterior end. Loins were the softest at the anterior end and became firmer toward the posterior end. From the anterior to approximately 40- 50% of the loin length, chops became darker (lower L*), redder (higher a*), and less yellow (lower b*). Near the center of the loin, color was constant, but became lighter (higher L*) and more yellow (higher b*) at the posterior end. Chops located at 25% (anterior), 50% (middle) and 75% (posterior) of the length of each loin were collected and further analyzed. Section chops within loins had similar pH values. The chop from the anterior section contained the highest percentage of crude fat, followed by the posterior section chop, and the middle section chop contained the lowest percentage. The middle section chop contained the highest percentage of moisture. The posterior section chop had more moisture display loss than the anterior and middle section chops. The anterior section chop had more cooking loss than the posterior section chop. Chops became progressively less tender the more posterior the section location

Optimizing ground beef lean sources to maximize display color life

It is widely accepted that meat color is the most important influencer of consumers’ meat purchasing decisions. Understanding how ground cow meat discolors is, and will continue to be, very important as a large influx of cull dairy cows in the U.S. meat supply is predicted. Optimal management and more timely marketing of cows should result in increased revenue for the beef industry. However, many valuable by-products from cows have been labeled as specified risk materials accompanied by a lost value. Thus, there is an unprecedented need to add value to cow meat. Research characterizing cow muscles and how to optimally use them for ground beef production could increase the value of cull cows and result in improved management and use of meat from cull cows. Our objectives were to evaluate the display color life of ground beef from different muscle combinations that vary in pre-established color stability values and determine if using beef or dairy cow meat affects color dynamics and stability of ground beef

Effects of freezing pork chops on warner-bratzler shear force and cookery traits

Eighty-one boneless pork loins were used to determine the influence of freezing and pH on Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBS) values and cookery traits. Chops with lower pH (<5.5 to 5.5) had higher cooking losses than chops with intermediate pH (5.7 to 5.9) and higher pH (6.0 to >6.2). Similar to cooking losses, total moisture losses decreased with increased pH. Frozen chops had lower WBS values (more tender) than fresh chops. However, fresh chops had a higher total yield (lower moisture loss) than frozen chops

Effects of pH and location within a loin on pork quality

Eighty-one boneless pork loins were used to determine the influence of pH on quality characteristics. With increasing loin pH, instrumental values for L* (lightness) and b* (yellowness) of loins and chops decreased, and cooking losses of chops before 0 d and after 1 d of retail display also decreased. The pH had no effects on package losses or Warner-Bratzler shear force values of chops. Center loin chops (0 d and 1 d) had higher ratios of reflectance than blade and sirloin chops. Sirloin chops had higher ratio of reflectance than blade chops. Center loin chops had lower package losses than blade and sirloin chops. Blade chops had lower (more tender) WBS values than center loin and sirloin chops. Measuring loin pH can predict instrumental color (L*and b*) values as well as cooking losses

Effects of quality grade, aging period, blade tenderization, and degree of doneness on tenderness of inside round steaks

We used 162 inside rounds to determine the influence of different quality grades, postmortem aging periods, blade tenderization passes, and degree of doneness on thawing and cooking losses and Warner-Bratzler Shear force (WBS, tenderness). Select (SEL), Choice (CHO), and Certified Angus Beef™ (CAB) inside rounds were aged for 7, 14, or 21 days and not tenderized (0X) or blade tenderized one (1X) or two (2X) times. Steaks from each inside round were assigned randomly to final endpoint cooking temperatures of 150, 160, and 170°F. Percentage of thawing loss was higher (P<.05) for steaks aged 7 days than steaks aged 14 and 21 days. For CHO steaks only, cooking loss was higher (P<.05) for the 2X group compared to the 0X and 1X groups. Steaks aged 14 and 21 days had lower (P<.05) WBS than steaks aged 7 days. Cooking loss and WBS were higher (P<.05) with each increase in endpoint cooking temperature. Postmortem aging (14 or 21 days) and lower endpoint cooking temperatures were the most effective methods to improve WBS of inside round steaks

Quality classification affects firmness of ground beef patties from the chuck roll

Consumers often use color as the main criteria in selecting meat products, and they associate a bright red color with freshness. Longer display life without discoloration can result in more opportunities to sell the product and greater potential for profit. Flavor, juiciness, and tenderness are also associated with consumer satisfaction. Although grinding offers an opportunity to mechanically minimize differences in tenderness, product quality can affect these sensory properties of ground beef. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of three quality classifications and their combinations on ground beef patty display color stability and sensory attributes evaluated by a trained sensory panel and consumer panel

Determination of the effect of brand and product identification on consumer palatability ratings of ground beef patties

Citation: Wilfong, A. K., McKillip, K. V., Gonzalez, J. M., Houser, T. A., Unruh, J. A., Boyle, E. A. E., & O'Quinn, T. G. (2016). Determination of the effect of brand and product identification on consumer palatability ratings of ground beef patties. Journal of Animal Science, 94(11), 4943-4958. doi:10.2527/jas2016-0894The objective of this study was to determine the effect of brand and product identification on consumer palatability ratings of ground beef patties. Six treatments were used in the study: 90/10 Certified Angus Beef (CAB) ground sirloin, 90/10 ground beef, 80/20 CAB ground chuck, 80/20 ground chuck, 80/20 ground beef, and 73/27 CAB ground beef. Ground beef was processed into 151.2-g patties using a patty former with 2 consecutively formed patties assigned to blind consumer testing and the following 2 assigned to informed testing. Following cooking to 74 degrees C, patties were cut into quarters and served to consumers. Consumers (n = 112) evaluated samples in 2 rounds for tenderness, juiciness, flavor liking, texture liking, and overall liking. Each trait was also rated as either acceptable or unacceptable. In the first round of testing, samples were blind evaluated, with no information about the treatments provided to consumers, but in the second round, product type and brand were disclosed prior to sample evaluation. Additionally, texture profile and shear force analyses were performed on patties from each treatment. Few differences were observed for palatability traits during blind consumer testing; however, during informed testing, 90/10 CAB ground sirloin was rated greatest (P < 0.05) for all palatability traits other than juiciness. Also, 90/10 CAB ground sirloin had increased (P < 0.05; (consumer informed score -consumer blind score)/consumer blind score) ratings for tenderness (17.4%), juiciness (36.5%), flavor liking (23.3%), texture liking (18.2%), and overall liking (24.7%) due to brand disclosure. Increased (P < 0.05) ratings were found for CAB products for multiple traits due to treatment disclosure, whereas the only non-CAB-branded product that received increased (P < 0.05) ratings during informed testing was 90/10 ground beef for tenderness and juiciness. Texture results indicated that decreased fat level increased hardness, cohesiveness, gumminess, and chewiness. These results indicate that when sampling ground beef without brand and product information, few consumers find differences in eating quality among ground beef treatments; however, when consumers are aware of the brand, fat level, and subprimal blend prior to sampling, these factors have a large impact on consumer eating satisfaction

Beef empire carcass merit days index system

Kansas State University, in cooperation with the Beef Empire Days committee, developed a new beef carcass index system for 1991, incorporating yield and quality traits as indicators of carcass merit. Development of the system considered current industry and consumer demands in a critical evaluation of final carcass ranking. The index starts from 100 points and applies positive and negative adjustments for hot carcass weight; ribeye area; adjusted 12th rib fat thickness; percent kidney, pelvic, and heart fat; and quality grade. The index was first used in 1991

The effect of branding on consumer palatability ratings of beef strip loin steaks

Citation: Wilfong, A. K., McKillip, K. V., Gonzalez, J. M., Houser, T. A., Unruh, J. A., Boyle, E. A. E., & O'Quinn, T. G. (2016). The effect of branding on consumer palatability ratings of beef strip loin steaks. Journal of Animal Science, 94(11), 4930-4942. doi:10.2527/jas2016-0893The objective of this study was to determine the influence of knowing the brand or USDA grade on consumer palatability ratings of beef strip loin steaks. Strip loins were selected to represent 5 USDA grades and brands, USDA Select, Choice, Prime, Certified Angus Beef (CAB; upper 2/3 Choice), and Select, from carcasses of cattle classified as Angus on the basis of phenotype. After 21 d of aging, 2.5-cmthick steaks were cut, consecutively cut steaks were paired for consumer evaluation. Consumer panelists (n = 112) evaluated samples for tenderness, juiciness, flavor liking, and overall liking. Additionally, consumers rated each palatability trait as either acceptable or unacceptable. Samples were fed in 2 rounds on the same day: blind and informed testing. In the first round, blind testing, consumers were served 1 sample from each treatment, with no product information provided. In the second round, consumers were informed of the brand or quality grade prior to sampling. During blind testing, CAB rated similar (P > 0.05) to Choice for all palatability traits; however, CAB rated greater P 0.05) for all traits when tested blind, but Angus Select was rated greater (P 0.05) when brand was disclosed. Brand knowledge increased (P 0.05) in the percentage of Choice and Select samples rated as acceptable for all palatability traits. These data indicate that Prime, CAB, and Angus Select steaks receive an increase in consumer palatability perception, or "brand lift," which does not occur for Choice and Select beef

Influence of duration of dietary vitamin E supplementation on swine growth performance and carcass quality

Supplementing medium-lean genotype pigs with supranutritional concentrations of dietary vitamin E (91 IU d-a-tocopheryl acetate/lb of feed) for as long as 70 d during the finishing phase was not effective in improving swine performance, feeding characteristics, and 24 h loin muscle quality. However, lower carcass temperatures obtained by spray chilling pork sides at O°C versus 4.4°C had a beneficial effect on 24 h carcass quality by improving marbling and lean firmness scores and reducing loin muscle moisture exudate. Overall, 24 h pork carcass quality was impacted more by chill rate than dietary vitamin E supplementation.; Swine Day, Manhattan, KS, November 19, 199