Abstract

SIMELA, L.; WEBB, E.C.  and  FRYLINCK, L.. Post-mortem metabolic status, pH and temperature of chevon from indigenous South African goats slaughtered under commercial conditions. S. Afr. j. anim. sci. [online]. 2004, vol.34, n.5, pp.204-207. ISSN 2221-4062.

The study was conducted to investigate the effects of sex, age and pre-slaughter conditioning on postmortem pH, temperature and glycolytic metabolite concentrations in M. longissimus thoracis (LT) of indigenous South African goats. Three hours post-mortem, the 2-teeth group had the highest temperature and lowest pH values. The group had an ultimate pH (pHu) that was 0.15 units lower than that of the 8-teeth group. Pre-slaughter conditioning resulted in a higher post-mortem temperature but had no effect on pH values. Sex, age and pre-slaughter conditioning had a low impact on glycolytic metabolite concentrations. Overall the goats in this study had a high pHu, high initial lactate concentration and low glycolytic potential, which suggest that they suffered both chronic and acute stress during pre-slaughter handling.

Keywords : Glycolytic metabolites; glycogen; lactate; pH; temperature; age; sex; pre-slaughter conditioning.

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