The effects of feeding regimen and muscle location on postmortem temperature and pH changes in camel carcasses

Abstract

Thirteen Najdi male camels representing two feeding regimens (feedlot vs. grazing) were slaughtered, then the carcasses were subsequently placed in a 10 ˚C cooler until 36 h postmortem. The biceps femoris, triceps brachii and brachiocephalicus muscle temperatures and pH were monitored periodically during the 36-h postmortem period. The muscle temperatures for the feedlot group was slightly (P>0.01) higher than the muscles from the grazing group. However, the triceps brachii and biceps femoris muscles had higher (P<0.01) temperatures and slower rates of temperature decline than the brachiocephalicus muscle throughout the 36-h period. The muscle pH values were consistently higher (P<0.01) for the grazing group than for the feedlot camels. The differences in pH between muscle types were not significant during the first 8-h postmortem, thereafter, the brachiocephalicus muscle maintained a significantly (P<0.01) higher pH than the biceps femoris and triceps brachii muscles.