Effects of postexsanguination vascular infusion of cattle with a solution of saccharides, sodium chloride, phosphates, and vitamins C, E, or C+E on meat display-color stability

Grain-finished, high-percentage Charolais steers (n = 36) were selected for uniformity. Immediately after jugular vein exsanguination, 27 steers were infused at 10% of live weight via the carotid artery with a solution develo ped by MPSC, Inc. (St. Paul, MN) consisting of 98.52% water, 0.97% sacchari des, 0.23% sodium chloride, and 0.28% phosphate blend plus either 500 ppm v itamin C (MPSC+C; n = 9), 500 ppm vitamin E (MPSC+E; n = 9), or 500 ppm vit amin C + 500 ppm vitamin E (MPSC+C+E; n = 9). Uninfused controls (CON) were exsanguinated conventionally, Carcasses were fabricated at 48 h postmortem . Longissimus thoracis (LT), psoas major (PM), and semimembranosus (SM) mus cles were removed, vacuum-packaged, and stored at 2 degreesC until 14 d pos tmortem. Then, steaks 2.54 cm thick were sliced from the three muscles, pla ced on foam trays, and overwrapped with polyvinyl chloride film. Ground bee f (GB) was formulated from the quadriceps femoris to contain 20% fat, mound ed into 0.45-kg portions, placed on styrofoam trays, and wrapped with polyv inyl chloride film. Steaks were visually evaluated for uniformity and initi al color on display d 0. Instrumental color measurements of L*, a*, b* and trained sensory panel color evaluations were obtained daily for 4 d (PM and GB) or 5 d (LT and SM) of display. No display time x treatment interaction existed for L*, a*, or b* values. The LT from CON cattle had more uniform color (P < 0.05) and was more cherry red than that from all infused cattle on d 0. Visual scores indicated that GB from MPSC+E cattle was more, red (P < 0.05) than that from MPSC+C infused cattle throughout display, and GB fr om MPSC+E cattle was more red (P < 0.05) than that from CON cattle for the last 3 d of display. The vascular infusion solutions generally did not impr ove color or display-color stability of steaks, but the infusion solution w ith vitamin E did improve display-color stability of GB.