Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-jn8rn Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-18T23:47:54.590Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Post-mortem electrical stimulation of broilers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  18 September 2007

A. Sams
Affiliation:
Department of Poultry Science, Texas A&M University System, College Station, TexasUSA77843-2472, e-mail: [email protected]
Get access

Abstract

Post-mortem electrical stimulation (ES) is not a new technology but has only recently become a commercial possibility for use in broiler processing. In broilers, ES seeks to reduce the toughness of meat that is deboned prior to the normal aging (or maturation) period. This is different from its previous use in red meat in which it is largely used to improve many aspects of the quality of meat that is aged on the carcass. Although many different ES techniques have been studied, the systems can be grouped into low amperage (0–200 mA per bird) and high amperage systems (350–500 mA per bird). Both types of systems have been used by processors and high amperage stimulators are available from a commercial manufacturer. The low amperage systems vary in their conditions and are commonly combined with other, enhancing procedures. The low amperage systems accelerate rigor development and prevent sarcomere shortening in the breast fillet after deboning, while the high amperage systems also induce the additional effect of myofibrillar damage to further improve tenderness. ES is a complex technology with many factors that need to be controlled for its successful implementation.

Type
Reviews
Copyright
Copyright © Cambridge University Press 2002

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alvarado, C.Z. and Sams, A.R. (2000) The Influence of Post-mortem Electrical Stimulation on Rigor Mortis Development, Calpastatin Activity, and Tenderness in Broiler and Duck Pectoralis. Poultry Science 79: 13641368.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Bilgili, S.F., Egbert, W.R. and Huffman, D.L. (1989) Effect of Post-mortem Aging Temperature on Sarcomere Length and Tenderness of Broiler Pectoralis Major. Poultry Science 68: 15881591.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Birkhold, S.G. and Sams, A.R. (1993) Fragmentation, Tenderness, Post-mortem Metabolism of Early-Harvested Broiler Breast Fillets From Carcasses Treated With Electrical Stimulation and Muscle Tensioning. Poultry Science 72: 577582.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Birkhold, S.G. and Sams, A.R. (1995) Comparative Ultrastructure of Pectoralis Fibers From Electrically Stimulated and Muscle-Tensioned Broiler Carcasses. Poultry Science 74: 194200.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Birkhold, S.G., Janky, D.M. and Sams, A.R. (1992) Tenderisation of Early-Harvested Broiler Breast Fillets By High-Voltage Post-Mortem Electrical Stimulation and Muscle Tensioning. Poultry Science 71: 21062112.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Burnett, B.B. (1996) Tenderising Poultry Meat Through Electrical Stimulation. U.S. Patent 5,512, 014.Google Scholar
Cason, J.A., Lyon, C.E. and Papa, C.M. (1997) Effect of Muscle Opposition During Rigor on Development of Broiler Breast Meat Tenderness. Poultry Science 76: 785787.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Castañeda, M.P. and Sams, A.R. (2000) Functionality of Electrically Stimulated Broiler Breast Meat. Poultry Science, 79(Suppl. 1): 53.Google Scholar
Chrystall, B.B. and Devine, C.E. (1985) Electrical Stimulation: Its Early Development in New Zealand. In: Advances in Meat Research. Vol. I, Electrical Stimulation pp. 73119. AVI Publishing Co., Westport, CT.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Clatfelter, K.A. and Webb, J.E. (1987) Method of Eliminating Aging Step in Poultry Processing. U.S. Patent 4675947.Google Scholar
Craig, E.W., Fletcher, D.L. and Papinaho, P.A. (1998) The Effects of Ante-mortem Electrical Stunning and Post-mortem Electrical Stimulation on Biochemical and Textural Properties of Broiler Breast Meat. Poultry Science 78: 490494.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Cross, H.R. (1979) Effects of Electrical Stimulation on Meat Tissue and Muscle Properties - A Review. Journal of Food Science 44: 509512, 514, 523.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dawson, P.L., Janky, D.M., Dukes, M.G., Thompson, L.D. and Woodward, S.A. (1987) Effects of Post-mortem Boning Time During Simulated Commercial Processing on the Tenderness of Broiler Breast Meat. Poultry Science 66: 13311333.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
De Fremery, R. and Pool, M.F. (1960) Biochemistry of Chicken Muscle As Related to Rigor Mortis and Tenderisation. Food Research 25: 7387.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Dickens, J.A. and Lyon, C.E. (1995) The Effects of Electrical Stimulation and Extended Chilling Times on the Biochemical Reactions and Texture of Cooked Broiler Breast Meat. Poultry Science 74: 20352040.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Ducasting, A.C., Valin, , Scholmeyer, J. and Cross, R. (1985) Effects of Electrical Stimulation of Post-mortem Changes in the Activities of Two Ca+ Dependent Neutral Proteases and Their Inhibitor in Beef Muscle. Meat Science 66: 13311333.Google Scholar
Etherington, D.J., Taylor, M.A.J. and Dransfield, E. (1987) Conditioning of Meat from Different Species: Relationship Between Tenderising and the Activities of Cathepsin B, Cathepsin L, Calpain I, Calpain II, and β-glucuronidase. Meat Science 20: 118.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Froning, G.W. and Uijttenboogaart, T.G. (1988) Effect of Post-mortem Electrical Stimulation on Color, Texture, pH, and Cooking Losses of Hot and Cold Deboned Chicken Broiler Meat Muscle. Poultry Science 67: 15361544.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Hamm, R. (1982) Post-Mortem Changes in Muscle With Regard to Processing of Hot-Boned Beef. Food Technology 36(11): 105115.Google Scholar
Hirschler, E.M. and Sams, A.R. (1998) Commercial-scale Electrical Stimulation of Poultry: The Effects on Tenderness, Breast Meat Yield and Production Costs. Journal of Applied Poultry Research 7: 99103.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Janky, D.M., and Birkhold, S.G. (1989) Tenderness and Physical Characteristics of Early-harvested Turkey Breast Tissue Following Various Durations of High Voltage Post-mortem Electrical Stimulation. Poultry Science 68(Suppl. 1): 72.Google Scholar
Kettlewell, P.J. and Hallworth, R.N. (1990) Electrical Stunning of Chickens. Journal of Agricultural Engineering Research 47: 139151.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Kijowski, J., Niewiarowicz, A. and Kujawaska-Biernat, B. (1982) Biochemical and Technological Characteristics of Hot Chicken Meat. Journal of Food Technology 17: 553560.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Koohmaraie, M. (1992) The Role of Ca+2-dependent Proteases (Calpains) in Post-mortem Proteolysis and Meat Tenderness. Biochimie 74: 239248.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Lawrie, R. (1991) Meat Science, 5th ed. Pergammon Press, Elmsford, NY, USA, pp. 5660.Google Scholar
Lee, Y.B., and Rickansrud, D.A. (1978) Effect of Temperature on Shortening in Chicken Muscle. Journal of food Science 43: 16141615.Google Scholar
Li, Y., Siebenmorgen, T.J. and Griffin, C.L. (1993) Electrical Stimulation in Poultry: a Review and Evaluation. Poultry Science 72: 722.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lyon, C.E., and Dickens, J.A. (1993) Effects of Electric Treatments and Wind Restraints on The Rate of Post-Mortem Biochemical Changes and Objective Texture of Broiler Pectoralis Major Muscles Deboned After Chilling. Poultry Science 72: 15771583.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lyon, B.G. and Lyon, C.E. (1990a) Texture Profile of Broiler Pectoralis major as Influenced by Post-Mortem Deboning Time and Heat Method. Poultry Science 69: 329340.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lyon, B.G. and Lyon, C.E. (1991) Shear Value Ranges by Instron Warner-Bratzler and Single-Blade Allo-Kramer Devices that Correspond to Sensory Tenderness. Poultry Science 70: 188191.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lyon, C.E., and Lyon, B.G. (1990b) The Relationship of Objective Shear Values and Sensory Tests to Changes in Tenderness of Broiler Breast Meat. Poultry Science 69: 14201427.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lyon, C.E., Hamm, D. and Thomson, J.E. (1985) pH and Tenderness of Broiler Breast Meat Deboned at Various Times After Chilling. Poultry Science 64: 307310.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Lyon, C.E., Davis, C.E., Dickens, J.A., Papa, C.M. and Reagan, J.O. (1989) Effects of Electrical Stimulation on The Post-Mortem Biochemical Changes and Objective Texture of Broiler Pectoralis Muscle. Poultry Science 68: 249257.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Maki, A. and Froning, W. (1986) Effect of Post-mortem Electrical Stimulation on Quality of Turkey Meat. Poultry Science 66: 11551157.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Morgan, J.B., Savell, J.W., Hale, D.S., Miller, R.K., Griffin, D.B., Cross, H.R. and Shackleford, S.D. (1991) National Beef Tenderness Survey. Journal Animal Science 69: 32743280.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Nakamura, R., Sekoguchi, S. and Sato, Y. (1975) The Contribution of Intramuscular Collagen to the Tenderness of Meat from Chickens with Different Ages. Poultry Science 54: 16041612.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Owens, C.M. and Sams, A.R. (1997) Muscle Metabolism and Meat Quality of Pectoralis from Turkeys Treated with Post-mortem Electrical Stimulation. Poultry Science 76: 10471051.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Papa, C.M., and Fletcher, D.L. (1988) Effect of Wing Restraint on Post-mortem Muscle Shortening and the Textural Quality of Broiler Breast Meat. Poultry Science 67: 275279.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Papa, C.M. and Lyon, C.E. (1989) Effects of Post-mortem Wing Restraint on the Development of Rigor and Tenderness in Broiler Breast Meat. Poultry Science 68: 238243.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sams, A.R. (1990) Electrical Stimulation and High Temperature Conditioning of Broiler Carcasses. Poultry Science 69: 17811786.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sams, A.R. (1994) Electrical Stimulation at Commercial Line Speeds. Broiler Industry 57(12): 1823.Google Scholar
Sams, A.R. (1994) Electrical Stimulation at Commercial Line Speeds – An Update. Broiler Industry 58(11): 2023.Google Scholar
Sams, A.R. (1999a) Meat Quality During Processing. Poultry Science 78: 798803.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sams, A.R. (1999b) Commercial Implementation of Post-mortem Electrical Stimulation. Poultry Science 78: 290294.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sams, A.R. and Janky, D.M. (1990) Simultaneous Histochemical Determination of Three Fiber Types in Single Sections of Broiler Skeletal Muscles. Poultry Science 69: 14331436.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Sams, A.R. and Janky, D.M. (1991) Characterization of Rigor Mortis Development in Four Broiler Muscles. Poultry Science 70: 10031009.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sams, A.R., Janky, D.M. and Woodward, S.A. (1989) Tenderness and R-value Changes in Early Harvested Broiler Breast Tissue Following Post-mortem Electrical Stimulation. Poultry Science 68: 12321235.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Sams, A.R., Birkhold, S.G. and Mills, K.A. (1991) Fragmentation and Tenderness in Breast Muscle From Broiler Carcasses Treated with Electrical Stimulation and High Temperature Conditioning. Poultry Science 70: 14301433.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Savell, J.W. (1985) Industrial Applications of Electrical Stimulation. In: Advances in Meat Research. Vol. I, Electrical Stimulation pp. 219–36. AVI Publishing Co., Westport, CT.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Savell, J.W., Dutson, T.R., Smith, G.C. and Carpenter, Z.L. (1978) Structural Changes in Electrically Stimulated Beef Muscle. Journal of Food Science 43: 16061609.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Skarovsky, C.J., and Sams, A.R. (1999) Tenderness, Moisture Loss, and Post-mortem Metabolism of Broiler Pectoralis from Electrically Stimulated and Air Chilled Carcasses. British Poultry Science 40: 622625.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Schutt-Abraham, I., Wormouth, H.J. and Fessel, J. (1983) Electrical Stunning of Poultry in View of Animal Welfare and Meat Production. In: Stunning of Animals for Slaughter pp. 187196. Eikelenboom, G., ed. Martinus Nijholt Publ., Boston, MA.Google Scholar
Smith, M.C. Jr., Judge, M.D. and Stadelman, W.J. (1969) A ‘Cold Shortening’ Effect in Avian Muscle. Journal of Food Science 34: 4246.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Smith, D.P. and Fletcher, D.L. (1988) Chicken Breast Muscle Fiber Type and Diameter as Influenced by Age and Intramuscular Location. Poultry Science 67: 908913.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Smith, D.P., Fletcher, D.L., Buhr, R.J. and Beyer, R.S. (1993) Peking Duckling and Broiler Chicken Pectoralis Muscle Structure and Composition. Poultry Science 72: 202208.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stewart, M.K., Fletcher, D.L., Hamm, D. and Thomson, J.E. (1984) The Influence of Hot Boning Broiler Breast Muscle on pH Decline and Toughening. Poultry Science 63: 19351939.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Stryer, L. (1981) Biochemistry. 2nd. ed. W.H. Freeman and Co., San Francisco, CA. p. 265307.Google Scholar
Takahashi, G., Wang, S-M., Lochner, J.V. and Marsh, B.B. (1987) Effects of 2-Hz and 60-Hz. Electrical Stimulation on the Microstructure of Beef. Meat Science 19: 6576.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Thompson, L.D., Janky, M.D. and Woodward, S.A. (1987) Tenderness and Physical Characteristics of Broiler Breast Fillets Harvested At Various Times From Post-Mortem Electrically Stimulated Carcasses. Poultry Science 66: 11581167.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Unruh, J.A., Kaster, C.L., Kopf, D.H., Dikeman, M.E. and Hunt, M.C. (1984) Effects of Low Voltage Electrical Stimulation During Exsanguination on Characteristics of Beef Longissmus and Semi-membranous Muscles. Proceedings of Reciprocal Meat Conference, American Meat Science Association. p. 181182.Google Scholar
Uytterhaegen, L., Claeys, E. and Demeyer, D. (1992) The Effect of Electrical Stimulation on Beef Tenderness, Protease Activities, and Myofibrillar Protein Fragmentation. Biochimie 74: 275282.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Veeramuthu, G.I. and Sams, A.R. (1999) Post-mortem pH, Myofibrillar Fragmentation and Calpain Activity in Pectoralis from Electrically Stimulated and Muscle Tensioned Broiler Carcasses. Poultry Science 78: 272276.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Wakefield, D.K., Dransfield, E., Down, N.F. and Taylor, A.A. (1989) Influence of Post-mortem Treatments on Turkey and Chicken Meat Texture. International Journal of Food Science and Technology 24: 8192.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, L.T., Shackelford, S.D., Birkhold, S.G. and Sams, A.R. (1995) Biochemical and Structural Effects of Rigor Mortis-Accelerating Treatments in Broiler Pectoralis. Poultry Science 74: 176186.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Walker, L.T., Birkhold, S.G., Kang, I.S., Hirschler, E.M. and Sams, A.R. (1996) The Effects of Post-mortem Electrical Stimulation and Muscle Tensioning in Two Broiler Muscles. Poultry Science 75: 11181120.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Young, L.L. and Lyon, C.E. (1997a) Effect of Electrical Stimulation in Combination with Calcium Chloride or Sodium Chloride Treatments at Constant Ionic Strength on Moisture Binding and Textural Quality of Early-harvested Breast Fillets. Poultry Science 76: 14461449.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Young, L.L. and Lyon, C.E. (1997b) Effect of Calcium Marination on Biochemical and Textural Properties of Pen-rigor Chicken Breast Meat. Poultry Science 76: 197201.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
Zocchi, C. and Sams, A.R. (1999) Tenderness of Broiler Breast Fillets from Carcasses Treated with Electrical Stimulation and Extended Chilling Times. Poultry Science 78: 495498.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed