EFFECT OF CALF FEEDING REGIMES AND DIET EDTA ON PHYSICOCHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS OF VEAL STORED UNDER MODIFIED ATMOSPHERES

Physico-chemical characteristics of veal from 30 calves allotted to fi ve different rations with respect to iron bioavailability were evaluat ed at packaging and after 2 and 4 weeks of storage under both 100% CO2 and 100% N-2. The five diets were 'Milk', 'Grain', 'Mix' (combination of Milk and Grain) and 'Mix + EDTA' and 'Grain + EDTA' where 15 mg ED TA were added per mg Fe in the feed concentrate. Diet EDTA was general ly more influential on veal quality than storage treatments. The chela tor caused an unexpected pH drop in veal stored four weeks irrespectiv e of storage conditions (p less than or equal to 0.05). However, the c olour, texture and flavour of meat from animals fed EDTA in the Grain- and Mix-ration was equivalent to that of Milk-fed veal (p less than or equal to 0.05). The EDTA treatments also improved the appearance of v eal under anoxic atmospheres. Upon storage however, the chelator incre ased veal drip losses (p less than or equal to 0.05) and also cooking losses from Grain-fed calves (p less than or equal to 0.05). Packaging under CO2 decreased pH (p less than or equal to 0.05) and increased d rip losses (p less than or equal to 0.05) but did not alter other phys ico-chemical parameters. Dietary treatments had no effect on shear for ces (p > 0.05) which decreased after two weeks in storage (p less than or equal to 0.05) independent of gas atmospheres. Overall, the qualit y characteristics of pale veal were obtained following addition of EDT A in Grain-and Mix-fed animals and were maintained in storage. This ap proach looks promising for the veal industry but warrants further rese arch. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.