3.1. pH
pH values show differences (P < 0.05) due to storage time and storage conditions ( Fig. 1). The initial pH value of ostrich meat was 6.04 ± 0.10. A final pH above 6.0 was also found for ostrich carcasses at 2–6 h after bleeding ( Sales & Horbanczuk, 1998). Berge, Lepetit, Renerre, and Touraille (1997) reported that depletion of glycogen reserves following ante-mortem stress in ratites might be the major reason for relative high pH values compared to other meats.