Post-Morten pH Decline as Influencied by Species in different Rhea muscles.

SALES, J., J.L NAVARRO, L. BELLIS, A. MANERO, M. LIZURUME AND M.B. MARTELLA

Veterinary Journal

Año: 1998 p. 209 - 211

0372-5545

The aim of this work was evaluate post-morten pH decline as influenced by species and muscles in rhea carcasses. Three Greater Rheas and 6 Lesser Rheas were slaughtered during this trial. The conventional procedures for ostrich slaughtering in South Africa were applied.  Measurements of pH were obtained, using a calibrated Hanna HI 8314 portable pH meter, in the Muscle gastrocnemius pars externa, M. iliotibialis lateralis and M, iliofibularis. A non-linear model was fitted for comparison of pH decline  between species and muscles. Rhea meat can be classified as an intermediate meat type between normal (pH <5.8) and extreme DFD (pH>6.2).  The interaction species-muscles as well as the influence of species showed non-significance for the parameters of the model. Significant differences were only found between muscles.