The pH–temperature curves of different carcasses in the same slaughterhouse were different during cooling (data not shown). Several different cooling rate/pH indicator values were calculated on the basis of the primary data, but only the pH–temperature combination that gave the best fit (the highest correlation with shear force) is reported. It was possible to find significant differences in time/temperature curves and pH values between the slaughterhouses (Table 1). M. semimembranosus cooled slower than M. longissimus dorsi, and therefore indicator values are given for both muscles