Influence of ageing on the physical qualities of the longissimus thoracis et lumborum and biceps femoris muscles from male and female free-ranging common eland (Taurotragus oryx).

The physical quality changes (pH, purge loss, cooking loss, drip loss, Warner-Bratzler shear force and CIE Lab colour) of vacuum-packaged longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) and biceps femoris (BF) muscles were determined for male (n = 6) and female (n = 6) eland during a 35-day post-mortem ageing period at 4 °C. The BF and LTL muscles reached maximum tenderness (57 to 67 N) at Day 17 and 21, respectively, but could still be considered tough after ageing. Purge losses increased throughout ageing for the two muscles, respectively; however, cooking loss decreased. Meat surface colour turned brighter, more red and yellow with ageing. Initially the BF muscle was more tender, had less purge loss and higher CIE a* and b* values than the LTL, however as the ageing period progressed the differences between the muscles became less apparent. Thus, ageing improved uniformity between muscles as well as tenderness, with minor influences of sex thereon.