Prediction of Meat Quality Using Infrared Orbital Temperature as a Non-Invasive Tool in Karacabey Merino, Hungarian Merino and Kivircik Lambs

The study was conducted to predict meat quality using infrared orbital temperature (IROT) as a non-invasive tool in lambs. The study was carried out on a commercial sheep farm. IROT images were collected from 70 male lambs before slaughter. IROT images of lambs were collected with an infrared camera (FLIR, T540). Meat colour parameters, drip loss, expressed juice and meat pH were evaluated as predictors of meat quality. Linear and quadratic regression analysis was used to investigate the relationship of IROT with numerous meat quality variables. IROT value showed a significant correlation with expressed juice (r=-0.416 P<0.05) in Karacabey Merino, and meat redness (r=0.407, P<0.05) and lightness (r=0.411, P<0.001) values in Kivircik lambs. Prediction equations for expressed juice by using IROT were significant in Karacabey (R2=0.173, RMSE=1.20, P<0.05) and, Hungarian Merino (R2=0.303, RMSE=1.67, P<0.05) lambs. In Kivircik lambs, meat redness (R2=0.165, RMSE=1.39, P<0.05) and Chroma (R2=0.169, RMSE=1.37, P<0.05) values measured after 1h blooming were predicted using IROT as well. In conclusion, IROT value might be used to predict the expressed juice, redness, and Chroma of lamb, but it is noteworthy that all equations exhibited low coefficient of determination values.