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Submitted to: Aquaculture America Conference
Publication Type: Abstract Only Publication Acceptance Date: 9/15/2004 Publication Date: 1/17/2005 Citation: Bosworth, B.G. 2005. Effects of harvest and transport environment on catfish meat quality. Aquaculture America Conference 2005, New Orleans, LA, Jan. 17-20, pp. 250. Interpretive Summary: Technical Abstract: The stress and activity associated with harvest, transport, and slaughter have negative impact on meat quality in livestock species. The negative impacts on meat quality are generally attributed to increased anaerobic metabolism associated with stress and exercise which lead to increased muscle lactate and decreased muscle pH. The resulting rapid decline in muscle pH and decrease in high energy phosphates in muscle leads to increased shrinkage in myofibrils and denaturation of muscle proteins which results in soft texture, increased drip-loss, decreased shelf-life, and undesirable color. The negative impacts of activity and stress associated with harvest, transport, and slaughter on meat quality are well documented in poultry and swine. Research at the Catfish Genetic Research Unit (CGRU), USDA-ARS has demonstrated that similar negative impacts of harvest and transport on meat quality occur in catfish. Potential strategies for reducing the negative impacts of harvest and transport on catfish meat quality are reviewed. |
