Changes in selected physicochemical parameters of breast muscles of geese from Polish conservation flocks depending on duration of the post slaughter period

Polish conservative flocks of Suwalki (Su), Kartuzy (Ka), Kielce (Ki) and Subcarpathian (Sb) geese, registered by FAO as domestic genetic resources the mean values of qualitative traits of breast muscles (pH15', pH30', pH45', pH24h; colour parameters: L*15', L*30', L*45', L24h, a*15', a*30', a*45', a*24h, b*15', b*30', b*45', b*24h and conductivity: EC45', EC3h, EC24h) were determined. The experimental flocks showed significant variations in the investigated parameters. The Kartuzy goose breast muscles were characterized by higher values of pH15' (6.74), pH30' (6.62), pH45' (6.56) and b*15' parameter (0.80) in comparison with the remaining flocks. Moreover, these muscles had the lowest pH24h (5.65) and values of L* parameter (L*15', L*30', L*45' and L*24h) and EC45' (3.23 mS/cm). The pH value and L* and a* parameters (except L*24h and a*24h) of the analysed flocks were decreasing, and conductivity increasing together with the time post slaughter, and the rate of changes depended on the birds' origin. Greater differences between pH values, measured 15 min and 24 h after slaughter were stated in breast muscles from Ka (1.09) and Su (0.90) geese than from the other two flocks investigated (Ki - 0.74; Sb - 0.58). The highest increase in conductivity (from EC45' to EC24h) was affirmed in Ka and Ki muscles (3.84 mS/cm) and the lowest in breast muscles of Sb geese (2.72 mS/cm).