Measurement and prediction of tenderness in six beef muscles

The relationship between subjective and objective evaluations of tenderness and that between the tenderness of different muscles in the same carcass have been examined in six beef muscles whose tenderness had been varied as a result of different post mortem treatments. Panel score (TP) was predicted by 'maximum force' (VF) and 'total work' (VW) on the Volodkevich bite tenderometer in both M. longissimus dorsi and M. semimembranosus (P < 0·001) and the regression coefficients were stable. In M. gluteus medius prediction was less significant (P < 0·01 for VF and P < 0·05 for VW) while in M. psoas major only VW was significant (P < 0·05). In M. biceps femoris and M. semitendinosus no significant prediction was found. These differences between muscles are attributed partly to varying changes in tenderness effected by post mortem treatments and partly to varying connective tissue content. The concept of one muscle acting as an index of toughness in a group of similar carcasses is thought to be untenable.