Improvements in retail shelf-life of exported beef will help with merchandising and increase competitiveness in the worldwide market for US beef products. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of topically applying acerola cherry powder or rosemary extract from various suppliers on beef bone-in short rib steak and chuck roll steak shelf-life. USDA Choice beef bone-in short ribs (IMPS 123A) and chuck rolls (IMPS 116A) were aged (0°C) for 28 d post-fabrication. Following aging, 1.02 cm-thick steaks were cut (N = 126) and systematically assigned to a treatment based on steak location within the subprimal. Treatments included: untreated control (C), topically sprayed (2ml) with an acerola cherry powder solution (0.05%) from one of three suppliers (C1, C2, C3), or topically sprayed (2ml) with a rosemary extract solution (0.10%) from one of three suppliers (R1, R2, R3). Half of the steaks were assigned to d 0 lipid oxidation, metmyoglobin reducing activity (MRA), and oxygen consumption; the remaining steaks were assigned to color evaluation over 4 days of retail display followed by d 4 lipid oxidation and MRA. Short rib steaks treated with antioxidants had a brighter oxygenated lean color than control steaks (P < 0.001). There was an interaction (P = 0.028) between time of retail display and MRA. Short rib steaks treated with C3 and R2 did not change in MRA between d 0 and 4 (P = 0.620, P = 0.428, respectively). Chuck roll steaks treated with C1, C2, C3, R2, and R3, all had a higher, or more desirable, MRA than the control steaks on d 0 (P < 0.001). Applying topical antioxidants improves the shelf-life stability of steaks from beef bone-in short ribs and chuck rolls aged for an extended period.

No abstract

Beef carcass weights in the United States have continued to increase over the past 30 years. As reported by the United States Department of Agriculture, grid-based carcass weight discounts begin when carcasses exceed 408 kg. Despite weight discounts, beef carcass weights continue to increase. At the same time, an increased prevalence of discoloration and color variability in top round subprimals has been observed throughout the industry which may be influenced by the increases in carcass weights. The objectives of this study were to assess the effects of beef carcass size and its relationship to chill time, color, pH, and tenderness of the beef top round. In the current study, eight industry average weight beef carcasses (AW, 341-397 kilograms) and eight oversized beef carcasses (OW, exceeding 432 kilograms) were evaluated. Temperatures and pH measurements were observed on both sides of all carcasses for the initial 48 h postharvest at a consistent superficial and deep anatomical location of the respective top rounds. Carcasses were fabricated into subprimals at 48 h and top rounds were aged at 2℃ for an additional 12 d. The superficial location of both AW and OW carcasses cooled at a faster rate (P < 0.01) than the deep locations. The deep location of OW carcasses had a lower pH and a more rapid (P < 0.01) initial pH decline. Quantitative color of steaks from OW carcasses had greater mean L* (lightness; P = 0.01) and initial b* (yellowness; P < 0.01) values. The delayed temperature decline and the accelerated pH decline of the deep location of the top round of OW carcasses occur at different rates than AW carcasses. Delayed rate of cooling leads to irreversible impacts on steak appearance of top round steaks fabricated from OW beef carcasses when compared with AW carcasses.

No abstract

Variation in cut size and weight of fabricated subprimals is a challengeof increased beef carcass weights. Subsequently, variation in carcass size hasresulted in consistency challenges during retail display. Theobjective of this study was to assess the retail shelf-life of commerciallyavailable top rounds from varying carcass weights. In the current study, 21industry average weight (AW, 340-409 kg; no industry discount) beef carcassesand 21 oversized (OS, exceeding 454 kg; receive a discount) beef carcasses wereevaluated. Carcasses were selected at a commercial beef packing plant, wherethe left and right (paired) top round subprimals of each carcass were procured.Paired top rounds were assigned to a short (8d), average (23d), or extended(42d) postmortem aging period. After wet-aging, subprimals were fabricated intosteaks for additional analysis. Steaks were evaluated as whole top round steaksor further fabricated into “superficial” and “deep” portions at 5.08 cm fromthe superficial edge of the Semimembranosus and the Adductor muscle.Top rounds and steaks from OS carcasses were larger (P < 0.01) thanthose from AW carcasses. Quantitative color of the anatomically deep locationsof the OS steaks had the greatest mean L* (lightness; P < 0.01), a*(redness; P < 0.01) and b* (yellowness; P < 0.01) values. Extendingthe aging timeline increased L* (lightness; P < 0.01), decreased a*(redness; P < 0.01), and decreased b* (yellowness; P <0.01). Alternative top round steak fabrication which separates the deep andsuperficial anatomical locations could be an effective means of providing moreuniform steaks.