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In order to determine sensory preference and value of fresh beef steak differing in aging technique, this study evaluated two aging methods: dry and wet; a quality grade on physicchemical traits of instrumental tenderness, color, and sensory properties of Longissimus dorsi beef muscle of Marchigiana bovine, correlated to calpain proteolytic activity too. Dry-aged loins had higher (P < 0.0001) weight loss than wet aged loins. Wet aged loins had higher (P < 0.01) L* values than dry aged loins. Warner-Blatzer shear force of steaks was not affected (P > 0.05) by aging method. We made a sensory panel evaluation too that showed no effect (P > 0.05) of aging method on myofibrillar tenderness, juiciness, connective tissue amount, overall tenderness or off flavor intensity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The research was aimed at identifying the key characteristics of muscle and fat tissues when comparing two pig breeds: Black Sicilian pig and Landrace pig. In Psoas minor (Pm) and Psoas major (PM) muscles the morphometric characteristics of fibre types and their percentage were determined. The area of adipocytes from internal and external layer of adipose tissue was also determined. The results showed that slow twitch oxidative (SO) fibres were larger than fast twitch glycolytic (FG) and fast twitch oxidative glycolytic (FOG); Pm muscle was characterized by larger FG and SO fibres than PM; males had larger fibres than females in both muscles and breeds. Landrace pig has smaller adipocytes cells than Black Sicilian while Black Sicilian pig showed more essential fatty acids than Landrace. The results in favour of Black Sicilian pig show how conservation of animal biodiversity becomes important because of the high independent homeostatic capability exhibited by autochthonous genetic types for the management and control of the land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...

The research was carried out on 16 pigs of autochthonous (located breed of pig) genetic type Cinta Senese. The morphometric characteristics of the fibre types and their percentage were determined on Longissimus Dorsi (LD) and Psoas major (PM) muscles. The area, diameter, volume and thickness of adipocytes from internal and external layers of adipose tissue from pig backfat, shoulder, dorsal and loin regions were determined. Maximum shortening velocity and isometric tension were measured in single muscle fibres. The type slow twitch oxidative fibres (SO) was larger than fast twitch glycolytic fibres (FG) and fast twitch oxidative glycolytic fibres (FOG) (P<0.001), LD muscle was characterised by fibres larger than PM and males had fibres larger than females. As regards adipocytes the dorsal region had bigger adipocytes (P<0.05-0.001) and fat thickness, adipocyte diameter and volume were higher in the middle layer. Isometric tension values were higher in the fibres type FOG, the values of maximum shortening velocity were higher in the fibres type FG. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] more...