Ante-mortem detection of PSE and DFD by infrared thermography of pigs before stunning.
Using water-holding capacity and colour measurements (L and b values) as objective quality parameters, we have observed an increasing incidence of meat quality defects with the increasing skin surface temperature of pigs by infrared thermography prior to stunning. Below 32·2°C, 50% of the 32 pigs measured had normal meat while the other half showed meat quality defects. Above 32·2°C, however, 71% of the 49 pigs showed meat quality problems classified as moderate PSE (6%), PSE (30%), moderate DFD (22%) and DFD (37%). At this temperature level, meat quality of the remaining pigs was normal and decreased to 29%. Although infrared thermography of live animals cannot predict whether the meat will be PSE or DFD, it seems to be a practical and rapid method to detect pigs who will yield a significant proportion of meat quality defects. An early post-mortem identification of meat quality could supply the missing information.
Infrared skin temperature measurements for monitoring health in pigs: a review
Infrared temperature measurement equipment (IRTME) is gaining popularity as a diagnostic tool for evaluating human and animal health. It has the prospect of reducing subject stress and disease spread by being implemented as an automatic surveillance system and by a quick assessment of skin temperatures without need for restraint or contact. This review evaluates studies and applications where IRTME has been used on pigs. These include investigations of relationships between skin, ambient and body temperatures and applications for detecting fever, inflammation, lesions, ovulation, and stress as well as for meat quality assessment. The best skin locations for high correlation between skin temperature and rectal temperature are most likely thermal windows such as ear base, eye region and udder. However, this may change with age, stressors, and biological state changes, for example, farrowing. The studies performed on pigs using IRTME have presented somewhat discrepant results, which could be caused by inadequate equipment, varying knowledge about reliable equipment operation, and site-specific factors not included in the assessment. Future focus areas in the field of IRTME are suggested for further development of new application areas and increased diagnostic value in the porcine and animal setting in general.
CONTINUOUS PRODUCTION OF BLUE‐TYPE CHEESE FLAVOR BY SUBMERGED FERMENTATION OF Penicillium roqueforti
A two-stage continuous process for the production of Blue cheese flavor from lipolyzed milk fat by submerged fermentation of Penicillium roqueforti was developed. In the first stage, P. roqueforti was grown aerobically on a corn-steep liquor/sucrose medium at 25° C, pH 7, aeration rate 1 liter air/min/L medium, and dilution rate 0.05 hr−1. The effluent air and culture over-flow were led to a maturing tank and allowed to age 24 hr. The mycelial culture was then pumped into a second fermentor to which lipolyzed milk fat was also fed continuously. An average 24 hr contact time between mold mycelium and fatty acids was maintained. The fatty acids and perhaps other components of the lipolyzed cream were metabolized by the P. roqueforti mycelium to produce a fluid product with a Blue cheese-type flavor. Small portions of this product were acceptably added to snack and party dips and salad dressings, as a Blue cheese replacement.