Meat quality parameters of the impala (Aepyceros melampus)

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of age, sex, region and croppingmethodology on the meat quality of impala. Forty impala were cropped during separateday and night operations at the Mara Agricultural Development Centre. Carcass pH45(measured in M. longissimus dorsi 45 minutes post mortem) was higher in night croppedanimals (6.67 ± 0.111; P<0.05) compared to the day cropped animals (6.55 ± 0.236).The ultimate carcass pH (pHu) of animals cropped at night was lower (5.39 ± 0.081;P<0.05) compared to those cropped in the day (5.45 ± 0.108). Non-linear regressionanalysis showed that the rate of pH decline of the night cropped animals was slowerthan that of the day cropped animals (P<0.05). The cooling rate of the M. longissimusdorsi was twice as fast in the night cropped group (P<0.05). Shear force values and driplosses of the night cropped animals were both lower (19.11 ± 5.675 g/mm2 and 2.93 ±1.597% respectively; PO.OS) compared to those of day cropped animals (23.42 ± 8.128g/mm2 and 4.15 ± 2.339%). The results indicate that nighttime cropping has a beneficialeffect on certain meat quality parameters compared to daytime cropping.A second group of impala was sampled at the Musina Experimental Farm in theLimpopo Province of South Africa. Live weights of the Mara animals (50.23 ± 9.32 kg)were higher (P<0.05) than the Musina animals (44.25 ± 10.81 kg). Impala sampled atMara had significantly higher dressing percentages than those at Musina (P<0.05).Impala ewes from both regions had a higher lipid content (P<0.05), but the sex of theanimal had no effect on the remaining chemical parameters. The crude protein contentof impala at Musina (24.88 ± 1.044%) was higher (P<0.05) than the Mara animals (23.80± 0.840%).Regional differences (P<0.05) were found in the amounts of phosphorous and calcium inthe meat. Female animals at Mara showed higher proportions (P<0.05) of saturated(SFA), and mono-unsaturated fatty acids than the male animals. Males from bothregions showed higher proportions (P<0.05) of poly-unsaturated fatty acids. Myristic,palmitic and stearic acid formed the greatest proportion of the SFA component for malesand females from both regions. Samples of the M. semi-membranosus (SM), M. deltoideus (D), M. longissimus dorsi etlaborum (LO), and M. psoas major (PS) were analysed for citrate synthase (CS) andphosphofructo-kinase activities. MHC distribution varied significantly between 0, SM andLD (P

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University