Inventors:
Donald C. Beitz - Ames IA
Allen Trenkle - Ames IA
Frederick C. Parrish - Nevada IA
Jayden L. Montgomery - Lubbock TX
Ronald L. Horst - Ames IA
Assignee:
United States of America (USDA) - Ames IA
Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc. - Ames IA
International Classification:
A23L 130
A21D 600
A01N 4500
Abstract:
A method of improving the tenderness of meat and meat products is described. The method includes administering excessive doses of vitamin D to meat producing animals prior to slaughter. The vitamin D causes greater calcium activated calpain activity which degrades certain myofibrillar proteins in the meat postmortem. The resulting meat has a significantly lower shear force in comparison to untreated meat.