Meat Quality Traits of Longissimus dorsi Muscle from Carcasses of Hanwoo Steers at Different Yield Grades

The strategy for increasing the palatability of Hanwoo beef through fattening could lead to a decline in yield grade. The aim of this study was to examine the meat quality traits of Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle from carcasses of Hanwoo steers at different yield grades. A total of 246 Hanwoo steers was divided into the following yield grades: A (n=77), B (n=76) and C (n=93). Meat quality traits, including proximate composition, cholesterol content, nucleotide content, dipeptide content, creatine and creatinine, free amino acid content, fatty acid composition, instrumental meat color, pH, water holding capacity, drip loss, cooking loss, and sensory qualities of the LD muscle from the 3 yield grades of Hanwoo carcasses were measured. The decline in yield grade from A to C resulted in an increase in crude fat and cholesterol content as well as a decrease in inosine 5’-monophosphate and aspartic acid in the LD muscle (p<0.05). In terms of fatty acid composition, the LD muscle from yield grade A had higher SFA and PUFA and lower MUFA content than that from yield grade C (p<0.05). However, the ratio of PUFA/SFA and n-6/n-3 did not differ among LD muscles from the 3 yield grades. There were no significant differences among other meat quality traits in relation to the yield grade. In conclusion, we suggest that the changes of substances related with health and flavor can be considered in order to obtain better quality Hanwoo beef.