EFFECT OF SEX, AGE AT SLAUGHTER AND AGING PERIOD ON WATER-HOLDING CAPACITY AND TENDERNESS OF MEAT OF POSAVINA HORSE BREED

Cilj ovog rada bio je utvrditi sposobnost zadržavanja vode (kalo odmrzavanja – TL i kalo kuhanja – CL) i mekoću mesa (Warner-Bratzler sila presijecanja, WBSF) posavskog konja obzirom na spol, dob pri klanju i dužinu zrenja. U istraživanje je sveukupno bilo uključeno 12 životinja (6 muških i 6 ženskih) pasmine posavski konj. Prosječna dob životinja bila je 18 mjeseci (od 6 do 36 mjeseci). Uzorci mesa potrebni za daljnju analizu izuzeti su s najdužeg leđnog mišića (M. longissimus dorsi) nakon zrenja od 14, odnosno 28 dana. Dobiveni podaci analizirani su pomoću SAS/STAT softverskog paketa verzija 9.4. Utvrđene srednje vrijednosti za TL, CL i WBSF su bile kako slijedi: 8,41%, 19,24% i 26,04 N. Rezultati istraživanja ukazuju da spol, dob pri klanju i dužina zrenja značajno ne utječu na sposobnost zadržavanja vode i mekoću mesa posavskog konja (p>0,05). Istraživanjem su dobivene nove spoznaje o kakvoći mesa posavskog konja koje bi svakako trebale pridonijeti budućim istraživanjima u svrhu potpunijeg razumijevanja kakvoće konjskog mesa.
The aim of this study was to determine water-holding capacity (thawing loss – TL and cooking loss – CL) and tenderness (Warner-Bratzler shear force, WBSF) of meat of Posavina horse breed considering sex, age at slaughter and aging period. Altogether, 12 animals of Posavina horse breed (6 males and 6 females) were involved in the study. The average age of the animals was 18 months and ranged from six to 36 months. Muscle samples for the analysis were taken from the M. longissimus dorsi of each carcass after the aging period of 14 days and 28 days. Water-holding capacity and tenderness of meat of Posavina horse breed were analyzed using the SAS/STAT software package version 9.4. The mean values for TL, CL, and WBSF were 8.41%, 19.24%, and 26.04 N, respectively. The results showed that TL, CL, and WBSF of meat of Posavina horse breed are not significantly affected by sex, slaughter age or aging period (p>0.05). This study gave a new insight into the meat quality traits of Posavina horse breed which could contribute to further necessary research to complete an understanding of horse meat quality.