Do implants cause dark cutters?
Implants do not cause dark cutters. Dark cutting carcasses are caused by abnormal physiology after slaughter. Normally, muscle contains glycogen, a type of starch that is used by the muscle for energy. After slaughter, glycogen is converted to lactic acid. Because circulation has ceased, lactic acid accrues in the muscle and the pH drops, producing normal beef characteristics. If glycogen is absent at slaughter, these normal changes do not occur and the higher than normal pH results in beef that is darker, firmer and drier than usual. This is called a dark cutter or DFD (dark, firm and dry) beef. Any event that causes muscle glycogen to be abnormally low at the time of slaughter could potentially result in a dark cutting carcass. Usually, high incidences of dark cutters are caused by specific stresses such as long hauls or overnight stays before slaughter.
Implants do not cause dark cutters. Dark cutting carcasses are caused by abnormal physiology after slaughter. Normally, muscle contains glycogen, a type of starch that is used by the muscle for energy. After slaughter, glycogen is converted to lactic acid. Because circulation has ceased, lactic acid accrues in the muscle and the pH drops, producing normal beef characteristics. If glycogen is absent at slaughter, these normal changes do not occur and the higher than normal pH results in beef that is darker, firmer and drier than usual. This is called a dark cutter or DFD (dark, firm and dry) beef. Any event that causes muscle glycogen to be abnormally low at the time of slaughter could potentially result in a dark cutting carcass. Usually, high incidences of dark cutters are caused by specific stresses such as long hauls or overnight stays before slaughter. Some cattle are more susceptible to cutting dark than others, and there are some times of the year that dark cutters are predictabl
