Carcass characteristics, the calpain proteinase system, and aged tenderness of Angus and Brahman crossbred steers

• Published in: Journal of animal science Vol. 75; no. 11; pp. 2955 - 2961
• Main Authors: Pringle, T. D, Williams, S. E, Lamb, B. S, Johnson, D. D, West, R. L
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Savoy, IL Am Soc Animal Sci 01-11-1997; American Society of Animal Science; Oxford University Press
• Subjects: Animals; Biological and medical sciences; Body Composition - genetics; Body Composition - physiology; Breeding; Calcium-Binding Proteins - analysis; Calpain - analysis; Cattle; Cattle - genetics; Cattle - physiology; Chromatography, Ion Exchange - methods; Chromatography, Ion Exchange - veterinary; Female; Food industries; Food Technology; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Male; Meat; Meat - analysis; Meat - standards; Meat and meat product industries; Muscle, Skeletal - chemistry; Muscle, Skeletal - enzymology; Muscle, Skeletal - physiology; Proteins; Time Factors; United States; United States Department of Agriculture; United States; Peptidases; Enzymatic activity; Enzyme; Cysteine endopeptidases; Interspecific comparison; Quality; Tenderness; Meat product; Hydrolases; Calpain; Sensory analysis; Beef
• ISSN: 0021-8812; 1525-3163; 0021-8812
• DOI: 10.2527/1997.75112955x

We used 69 steers of varying percentage Brahman (B) breeding (0% B, n = 11; 25% B, n = 13; 37% B, n = 10; 50% B, n = 12; 75% B, n = 12; 100% B, n = 11) to study the relationship between carcass traits, the calpain proteinase system, and aged meat tenderness in intermediate B crosses. Calpains and calpastatin activities were determined on fresh longissimus muscle samples using anion-exchange chromatography. The USDA yield and quality grade data (24 h) were collected for each carcass. Longissimus steaks were removed and aged for 5 or 14 d for determination of shear force and 5 d for sensory panel evaluation. Even though some yield grade factors were affected by the percentage of B breeding, USDA yield grades did not differ (P > .15) between breed types. Marbling score and USDA quality grade decreased linearly (P < .01) with increasing percentage of B breeding. Shear force after 5 and 14 d of aging was higher (P < .05) in the 100% B steers than in all other breed types, which were not significantly different. Sensory panel tenderness and connective tissue scores decreased linearly (P < .05) with increasing B breeding. A quadratic effect was also noted for tenderness and connective tissue scores; 37% B steers received the highest scores. A similar response was found in mu-calpain activities; the 37% B steers had the highest activities. Conversely, calpastatin activity increased linearly (P < .01) with increasing percentage B breeding. These data show strong linear relationships between calpastatin activity (positive), marbling score (negative), and percentage B breeding, suggesting a possible combined effect of these traits on aged tenderness of intermediate Brahman crosses.