Muscle characteristics only partially explain color variations in fresh hams.
K Stufft1, J Elgin1, B Patterson1
1Department of Animal and Poultry Sciences, Litton-Reaves Hall, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA.
Meat Science
|February 19, 2017
Summary
Fresh ham color variation is linked to muscle differences, particularly in energy metabolites like glycolytic potential. These variations impact the final cured product quality, suggesting further investigation into contributing factors.
Area of Science:
- Meat Science
- Animal Science
- Food Science
Background:
- Significant lean color variation in fresh hams affects cured product quality.
- Understanding the source of this color disparity is crucial for the pork industry.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate muscle characteristics and energy metabolites in semimembranosus (SM) muscles with varying color.
- To identify factors contributing to color variation in fresh hams.
Main Methods:
- Evaluated L* (lightness) and a* (redness) values across SM muscle sections.
- Measured ultimate pH, glycolytic potential (GP), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), myoglobin, and myosin heavy chain type I isoform.
Main Results:
- Caudal aspects of SM muscle showed higher L* and a* values and lower ultimate pH.
- These regions exhibited higher GP and LDH levels.
- No differences were found in myoglobin or myosin heavy chain type I isoform content.
Conclusions:
- Muscle characteristics, specifically energy metabolites, contribute to fresh ham color variation.
- Other factors likely influence or worsen these color differences in cured products.
Related Concept Videos
01:19Pigmentation
4.8K
The color of the skin is influenced by a number of pigments, including melanin, carotene, and hemoglobin. Recall that melanin is produced by cells called melanocytes, which are found scattered throughout the stratum basale of the epidermis. The melanin is transferred to the keratinocytes via melanosomes.
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
Melanin occurs in two primary forms: eumelanin that provides black and brown pigment and pheomelanin that provides red color. Dark-skinned individuals produce more melanin than those with pale...
4.8K
01:32Types of Skeletal Muscle Fibers
4.9K
Skeletal muscles comprise various fibers, each with distinct characteristics and roles in movement and stability. They are mainly categorized into three types — fast-twitch, slow-twitch, and intermediate.
Fast-twitch fibers
Fast-twitch fibers, or Type II fibers, are designed for quick, powerful bursts of speed and strength. They reach peak tension within approximately 0.01 seconds following stimulation. Characterized by a large diameter and densely packed myofibrils, these fibers contain...
Fast-twitch fibers
Fast-twitch fibers, or Type II fibers, are designed for quick, powerful bursts of speed and strength. They reach peak tension within approximately 0.01 seconds following stimulation. Characterized by a large diameter and densely packed myofibrils, these fibers contain...
4.9K
01:48Classification of Skeletal Muscle Fibers
59.8K
Skeletal muscles continuously produce ATP to provide the energy that enables muscle contractions. Skeletal muscle fibers can be categorized into three types based on differences in their contraction speed and how they produce ATP, as well as physical differences related to these factors. Most human muscles contain all three muscle fiber types, albeit in varying proportions.
Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers
Slow oxidative, muscle fibers appear red due to large numbers of capillaries and high levels of...
Slow-Twitch Muscle Fibers
Slow oxidative, muscle fibers appear red due to large numbers of capillaries and high levels of...
59.8K
01:25Overview of Muscle Tissues
25.0K
The human body has three types of muscle tissue: skeletal, smooth, and cardiac. Each class has unique properties that enable them to perform specific functions. However, all muscle tissues share certain properties, including elasticity, contractility, and excitability.
Elasticity
Elasticity is the ability of muscles to stretch and return to their original shape. This property is partly due to elastic fibers — macromolecules that run through the muscles. These fibers are firm and...
Elasticity
Elasticity is the ability of muscles to stretch and return to their original shape. This property is partly due to elastic fibers — macromolecules that run through the muscles. These fibers are firm and...
25.0K
01:39Epistasis
50.7K
In addition to multiple alleles at the same locus influencing traits, numerous genes or alleles at different locations may interact and influence phenotypes in a phenomenon called epistasis. For example, rabbit fur can be black or brown depending on whether the animal is homozygous dominant or heterozygous at a TYRP1 locus. However, if the rabbit is also homozygous recessive at a locus on the tyrosinase gene (TYR), it will have an unshaded coat that appears white, regardless of its TYRP1...
50.7K
01:27Specialized Characteristics of Cardiac Muscles
4.6K
The primary role of cardiac muscles is to propel blood throughout the cardiovascular system. The cardiac muscle cells, or cardiomyocytes, exhibit specialized characteristics that allow them to perform this function.
Cardiac muscle cells are smaller than skeletal muscles, averaging 10–20 mm in diameter and 50–100 mm in length. However, they have large energy demands for continuous contraction and relaxation. This energy is almost exclusively derived from aerobic metabolism of energy...
Cardiac muscle cells are smaller than skeletal muscles, averaging 10–20 mm in diameter and 50–100 mm in length. However, they have large energy demands for continuous contraction and relaxation. This energy is almost exclusively derived from aerobic metabolism of energy...
4.6K