EFFECT OF HIGH VOLTAGE ELECTRICAL STIMULATION ON BUFFALO MEAT CONDITIONING

Abstract

The efficiency of high voltage electrical stimulation (700V, 1400V peak, pulses 1s on/1s off, 60Hz, 2A) on buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) carcass in muscle conditioning, during nine days storage period, was studied. Electrically stimulated (ES) muscles resulted in significantly more rapid pH fall as compared with controls (P<0.01) and the difference at first hour post mortem was 0.75 value. The IMP/ATP ratio clearly indicates that the applied process reduced significantly (P<0.01) time period necessary for the onset of rigor mortis in ES muscle. Myofibrillar fragmentation index differences between control and ES muscles increased throughout storage at 2ºC being statistically significant (P<0.01), and it was confirmed by slurry myofibrillar photomycrographies from 6th day of post mortem conditioning. On this storage time  the SDSelectrophoretic patterns of myofibrillars proteins also indicated light weakening of Troponin T (37,000D) band. The rate of the myofibrillar degradation, hence the acceptable tenderness in buffalo muscle, can be predicted by high voltage electrical stimulated process.