Minimal electrical stimulation is effective in low stressed and well fed cattle

- A range of duration of electrical stimulation on beef quality were studied.
- Low stress, high energy diets and short simulation achieve acceptable tenderness.
- All stimulation parameters improved colour.

Four groups of carcasses of eighty grain fed low stressed steers (~ 12 months old, 240 kg carcass weight) received no stimulation or had low voltage stimulation for 15, 45 and 90 s. M. longissimus was aged for 2 and 14 days at 2 °C. Shear force, sarcomere length, water holding capacity, purge, muscle fibre detachment, sarcomere breaks and colour shelf life over 7 days was measured. Both 45 s and 90 s stimulated samples completed rigor above 35 °C and 15 s stimulated and non-stimulated samples below 35 °C. The greatest muscle fibre detachment occurred for 15 s stimulated samples which were the most tender at all times with non-stimulated samples toughest at 2 days of ageing and all samples being tender at 14 days of ageing. The 45 and 90 s stimulated samples consistently exhibited a brighter red colour at 2 days of ageing with no differences in colour intensity for the samples aged 14 days.