Effect of Antemortem Administration of Adrenaline on Postmortem Lamb Carcass Characteristics

Abstract

Sixty-four lambs were used to determine the effect of pre-slaughter adrenaline injections on subsequent carcass characteristics. Flank muscles from adrenaline-treated animals were significantly darker in color and presented higher pH values than untreated animals. Color scores and pH values of the flank muscles were related to pH values of the longissimus dorsi muscle. Color of flank muscles was not related to myoglobin content. There was a significant inverse relationship between myoglobin content of the rectus abdominis muscle and pH of the rectus abdominis muscle. The increase in color intensity of lamb muscle, as measured by a subjective panel, apparently was influenced more by changes in muscle consistency due to higher pH than by quantity of pigment.