Postmortem glycolytic metabousm in the skeletal muscles of anaesthetised and stunned Boer goats, <i>Capra hircus</i>

Abstract

The rates of postmortem glycolysis in several muscles of halothane anaesthetised and captive-bolt stunned Boer goats were measured at 37°C. The muscles examined were the M. semitendinosus, the M. Psoas major and the M. longissimus dorsi at the thoracic and lumbu regions. It is shown that captive-bolt stunning does not produce a very rapid postmortem glycolysis in the skeletal musculature. Initial pH values in the M. semitendinosus. M. psoas major and M. longissimus dorsi of the stunned animals were in the region of 6,8 compared with an initial value of 7,1 in the anaesthetised animals. pH₁ values in the muscles of the stunned goats were about 6,6 and the pH was still above 6,0 at four hours postmortem The M. longissimus dorsi was less affected by stunning than either the M. psoas major or the M. semitendinosus. Data on the levels of ATP. phosphocreatine and glucose-6-phosphate in the same muscles are also presented, and are related to the fibre type of the muscles as determined by succinic dehydrogenase histochemistry. The results are contrasted with previously published data which showed that captivebolt stunning has a detrimental effect on the meat quality of the muscles of the pig.