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.