Excess Glycogen Does Not Resolve High Ultimate pH of Beef, Lamb, and Chicken Oxidative Muscle

Abstract

Objectives Glycogen is the main energy source during the conversion of muscle to meat. Lower glycogen levels of oxidative muscle antemortem were thought to contribute to a higher ultimate pH. However, excess glycogen did not resolve the high ultimate pH of porcine masseter (oxidative) muscle. To understand this phenomenon further in other species, we hypothesized that excess glycogen may not resolve the high ultimate pH of oxidative muscles in beef, lamb, and chicken. Materials and Methods Six market-weight beef cattle, lambs, and chickens were harvested at The Ohio State Meat Center under USDA-FSIS supervision. Cutaneous trunci (glycolytic) and masseter (oxidative) muscle samples from the ..