NEAR-INFRARED SPECTROSCOPY DETERMINATION OF PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL CHARACTERISTICS IN BEEF CUTS

The qualities of beef cuts were compared with near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy readings using reflectance, transmittance and a fiber optic probe. Multiple linear regression analyses were used to select the optimum wavelengths for estimating beef properties. High multiple correlation coefficients (R) were obtained for Warner-Bratzler shear value (R = 0.798-0.826), protein (R = 0.822-0.904), moisture (R = 0.895-0.941), fat (R = 0.890-0.965) and energy content (R = 0.899-0.961) with each reflectance, transmittance and using the fiber optic probe. Total pigment content also highly correlated with optical densities using transmittance (R = 0.946) and the fiber optic probe (R = 0.893). NIR with a fiber optic probe is a useful tool for determining physical and chemical characteristics of beef.