The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 28, 2000
Filed:
Jun. 27, 1997
Applicant:
Inventors:
Donald C Beitz, Ames, IA (US);
Allen Trenkle, Ames, IA (US);
Frederick C Parrish, Nevada, IA (US);
Jayden L Montgomery, Lubbock, TX (US);
Ronald L Horst, Ames, IA (US);
Assignees:
United States of America (USDA), Ames, IA (US);
Iowa State University Research Foundation, Inc., Ames, IA (US);
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
A23L / ; A21D / ; A01N / ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
426 73 ; 426 73 ; 426 72 ; 426248 ; 426311 ; 514167 ; 552653 ; 556552 ; 424524 ; 2041576 ;
Abstract
A method of improving the tenderness of meat and meat products is described. The method includes administering excessive doses of vitamin D to meat producing animals prior to slaughter. The vitamin D causes greater calcium activated calpain activity which degrades certain myofibrillar proteins in the meat postmortem. The resulting meat has a significantly lower shear force in comparison to untreated meat.