Consumers' willingness to pay for beef direct sales. A regional comparison across the Pyrenees.

Willingness to pay (WTP) for direct market of beef is investigated in two Spanish and two French regions located on both sides of the Pyrenees. Given the novelty of this distribution system, especially in Spain, a contingent valuation approach is undertaken, and a double-bounded model is estimated. Different patterns of awareness, use and WTP are found across regions. Likewise, the profile of current and potential users of direct sale chains is investigated. Experience in the different stages involved from choice to final consumption of beef, intensity of varied beef consumption, familiarity with direct market of food in general, and beef in particular, are some of the relevant factors to explain WTP and the probability of getting engaged into a direct distribution system of beef.

Effect of selection for growth rate on biochemical, quality and texture characteristics of meat from rabbits.

Biochemical characteristics, including myosin heavy chain I (MHC-I) percentage, isocitrate dehydrogenase and aldolase activities, meat quality traits and instrumental texture properties of rabbits selected for different growth rates were studied. The animals of the control (C) group (7th generation; n=60) were raised in parallel with those of selection (S) group (21st generation; n=60). Carcass weights (1230.1±19.8 and 1348.3±20.1 g, for C and S, respectively) and perirenal and scapular fat content differed significantly (P<0.01) between the two groups. Water holding capacity was expressed as the percentage of pressure released water and was significantly different (P<0.05) between groups C and S (33.29% and 35.57%). MHC-I percentage and aldolase activity also differed significantly (P<0.05) between groups, group C showing higher oxidative traits than group S (MHC-I: 12.5% and 9.8%; aldolase: 597.11 and 636.83 UI/g muscle). Texture properties from the Warner-Bratzler test showed higher (P<0.001) shear firmness for loin in the S group (1.69 kg/s cm(2)) than in the C group (1.34 kg/s cm(2)). In addition, the texture profile analysis indicated that chewiness, gumminess and hardness were also higher in the S group (P<0.01). In conclusion, the results confirmed a positive effect of the selection on productive traits and a negative effect on instrumental texture properties and on the water holding capacity of the meat.

Effect of muscular hypertrophy on physico-chemical, biochemical and texture traits of meat from yearling bulls.

The effect of the presence of the double-muscling gene either homozygous (mh/mh) or heterozygous (mh/+) on the physico-chemical, biochemical and texture traits of Longissimus thoracis muscle of yearling bulls of the Asturiana de los Valles (AV) breed was studied. Meat of mh/mh bulls had lower amount of intramuscular fat (p<0.001) and also lower total (p<0.01) and insoluble collagen (p<0.05), although the double-muscling genotype did not affect collagen solubility. Homozygous animals had lower pigment content (p<0.05) and a lighter meat, showing lower water holding capacity, estimated as expressible juice under pressure (p<0.001). Genotype affected significantly the metabolic traits of muscle, with mh/mh animals having higher muscle glycolytic metabolism, assessed by a higher (p<0.001) lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and lower (p<0.001) oxidative activity of the isocitrate dehydrogenase (ICDH). The percentage of myosin heavy chain I in muscle was lower, although not significantly, for mh/mh bulls compared to mh/+ bulls. Texture measurements performed on raw material showed that meat of mh/mh bulls had lower resistance to total and 80% compression, which means lower background or collagen toughness. However, there were no differences between genotypes on shear force of cooked meat. Therefore, the physico-chemical, biochemical and texture traits of meat from mh/mh and mh/+ bull are in general significantly different, which could affect the sensorial quality of meat and hence the consumer acceptance.