During carcass cooling, 2 and 24 hours after slaughter, electrical
conductivity (EC2 and EC24) was measured in using a LF-Star Matthäus
conductometer, between the 4th and the 5th lumbar vertebrae of the
right and left half-carcass. After 24 hours of carcass chilling, longissimus
dorsi muscle samples were collected from the 1th–4th lumbar
vertebra region of the right and left half-carcass, in which pH24 was
measured. The value of drip loss from the meat was also determined
48 and 72 hours after slaughter according to PRANGE et al. (1977). About
48 hours after slaughter, pH measurement in longissimus lumborum
(LL) muscle, meat colour traits, i.e. L* (lightness), a* (redness) and b*
(yellowness) were established by means of a HunterLab Mini Scan
XE Plus 45/0 with light illuminant D65 and 10 degree standard observer,
as well as the cooking loss from a difference of meat sample weight
before and after heating in a water bath at 72 °C for 15 minutes. Moreover,
72 hours post mortem, pH measurement in the LL muscle was
performed.
The frequency of normal and defective meat was determined based
on pH1, pH24, drip loss determined 48 hours post mortem, meat colour
lightness (L*) and electrical conductivity (EC2). For normal meat, the
limit values for these meat quality traits amounted respectively