Sex influence on muscle yield and physiochemical characteristics of common eland (Taurotragus oryx) meat

Abstract

To investigate the potential of eland for meat production, the yield, physical quality and chemical composition of seven muscles were characterized from both male (n = 6) and female (n = 6) carcasses. Although carcass weights did not differ, cows had greater biceps femoris (BF), semitendinosus (ST) and supraspinatus (SS) muscle yields. The semimembranosus (SM) from cows had the greatest drip loss and were more yellow (b*) than all muscles evaluated from both sexes. Shear force measurements showed no effect of sex but large variations between muscles existed (65.5 to 97.6 N). Moisture content was greater within the BF, SS, ST and infraspinatus (IS) than the longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) and SM. The LTL and IS had the lowest intramuscular fat content, while the LTL and SM muscle had the highest crude protein content. Sex had little effect on eland meat composition, showing potential for the meat of both sexes to be marketed as a lean meat source.

Keywords: Antelope; Colour; Muscle profiling; Tenderness; Venison; pH.