Factors affecting spoilage microflora succession on lamb carcasses at refrigeration temperatures.

Three bacterial groups were detected during the shelf-life of lamb carcasses stored at refrigeration temperatures: coryneforms (mostly Brochothrix thermosphacta), Gram-positive cocci (staphylococci) and Gram-negative bacilli (Pseudomonas spp. and Moraxella spp.). Influence of categorical variables such as sampling day, sampling area and sampling method on their recovery was analysed by a chi-square test of independence and loglinear analysis. Hierarchical loglinear modelling proved to be very useful as several three-way interactions of factors were observed.