Effect of forage and retail packaging types on meat quality of long-term chilled lamb loins

The objectives of this study were to determine the effects of different forage regimes and modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) systems [high oxygen (HiOx-MAP): 80% O2 and 20% CO2; and CO2-MAP: 20% CO2 and 80% N2] on color and lipid oxidation stability and sensory attributes of long-term chilled lamb loins during retail display. Lambs (n = 124) were randomly assigned to several pasture-feeding regimes for 12 wk before slaughter. Some had ryegrass (n = 18), lucerne (n = 18), chicory (n = 19), plantain (n = 16), or red clover (Clover 12; n = 17) for all 12 wk. Some were assigned a regime of red clover for 11 wk and pasture for 1 wk (Clover 11; n = 18), with others on red clover for 9 wk and pasture for 3 wk (Clover 9; n = 18). After the lambs were slaughtered, the paired loins (M. longissimus dorsi) were excised at 24 h postmortem, vacuum-packed and stored at -1.5 °C for 9 wk. Cuts were then made from each loin and randomly allocated to either HiOx-MAP or CO2-MAP, and displayed for 7 d at 4 °C under light. Chemical attributes including lipid oxidation, surface color-reversing ability, oxygen consumption, and meat quality attributes (color stability and sensory characteristics) were determined. Among the different forage types, the loins from lambs finished on ryegrass appeared to have greater color stability and less lipid oxidation than the loins from lambs finished on other forage types (P < 0.05). On the other hand, the loins from lambs finished on lucerne had the least color and lipid oxidation stabilities and least color-reversing ability (P < 0.05). The loins from lambs finished on chicory had higher aroma and flavor scores than other pasture types in general (P < 0.05). HiOx-MAP negatively influenced meat quality attributes of lamb loins during display, as substantial increases in surface discoloration and lipid oxidation were observed, along with significant decreases in aroma and flavor during retail display compared with the loins in CO2-MAP. These results suggest that different forage types and packaging conditions could result in substantial impacts on meat quality attributes of long-term chilled lamb loins by affecting oxidation stability. Furthermore, the present study suggests that CO2-MAP could provide beneficial effects on the eating quality of long-term chilled lamb loins by suppressing oxidation-related defects during display without compromising the ability of blooming for meat display.