The pH of the meat was measured when the physical–chemical analysis
was carried out, using a Testo 205 pH meter (Testo InstrumentCo.
LTD., Germany) with an automatic endpoint and buffer recognition, as
well as temperature compensation, equipped with a penetrating electrode.
The pH-meter was calibrated before use to pH 7.0 and 4.01. The
pH was measured at approximately 4 cm deep in the L. lumborum muscle
on the left side of each carcass (12th rib). We performed pH readings
in triplicate at three different points in the L. lumborum muscle