The area of the M longissimus dorsi, ham weight, and
fat thickness at the 6-7th and at 10th rib, behind the last
rib and at the last lumbar vertebra were defined during the
confrol slaughtering. Meat samples (500 g) were taken
from the M. longissimus dorsi in the area of the last ribs
for the evaluation of meat quality. Meat quality was
evaluated at the Laboratory of Animals Meat Properties
and Meat Quality Evaluation, LVA. Quality
investigations were carried out 36 hours after
slaughtering, the meat was kept at + 4 °C temperature, its
pH was measured by a pH-meter „Inolab", containing a
contact electrode, meat colour by „MINOLTA
Chromameter" measuring lightness L', redness a*,
yellowness b', the amount of inframuscular fat by the
Soxlete method, ash by burning meat organic matter at
700°C temperature, and protein by the Kjeldal method.
Meat drip loss was determined by a package method,
keeping the meat in special bags for 24 hours at + 4 °C
temperature, meat water holding capacity was evaluated
according to Grau and Hamm, cooking loss by boiling
meat packed in vacuum in a circulating water bath at
75°C temperature for 30 min., and meat tendemess
according to Wamer - Bratzler.