The impact of drawing on the biogenic amines content in meat of pithed pheasant

Abstract

With the increasing popularity of game meat, greater emphasis is being placed on ensuring high hygienic quality of this food. Biogenic amines are among possible indicators of the hygienic quality of meat. The aim of this study was to monitor biogenic amine concentrations in the muscle tissues of pheasants (n = 20) killed by pithing and treated by drawing (guts are removed from the body cavity through the cloaca using a specially fashioned hook). The pheasants' bodies were stored hanged by the neck for 21 days at ±7 °C. Breast and thigh muscle samples were collected at weekly intervals (day 1, 7, 14 and 21 of storage). Biogenic amines (putrescine, cadaverine, tyramine, histamine, tryptamine and phenylethylamine) were analysed by reverse phase liquid chromatography and detected by tandem mass spectrometry. In breast muscle, the most evident change was noted in the concentration of cadaverine (0.026 and 1.070 mg/kg for storage day 1 and 21, respectively) and tyramine (0.001 and 0.958 mg/kg for storage day 1 and 21, respectively). Throughout the storage period, the concentration of 5 mg/kg (indicating a loss of high hygienic quality of meat) was not exceeded by any of the assessed biogenic amines. In thigh muscle, the concentration indicating high hygienic quality of meat was exceed after 14 days of storage in the case of cadaverine, tyramine and putrescine (at the end of storage their concentrations were 9.058, 10.708 and 3.345 mg/kg, respectively). Hygienic quality of thigh muscle decreased faster compared to breast muscle. This study brings new information about the content of biogenic amines in the meat of pithed pheasants treated by drawing.