EFFECTS OF BLEEDING ON POSTMORTEM CHANGES IN THE MUSCLE OF HORSE MACKEREL

The changes in rigor index, breaking strength, and the concentrations of energy-related compounds during ice storage of the dorsal muscle we re investigated for horse mackerel killed by stabbing in the spinal bu lb only or by that followed by bleeding. The rate of progress of rigor -mortis in the bleeding group was slower than that in the stabbing gro up without bleeding. No significant differences were observed in the c hanging rates of breaking strength, and concentrations of ATP and crea tine phosphate until 36 hours after death. K-value from 3 days to 7 da ys after death had a tendency to be lower in the bleeding group. From these results, it was considered that the bleeding was a useful method for delaying the progress of rigor-mortis.