INCLUSION OF LIVER IN MEAT PRODUCTS FROM SHEEP

dd The objective of this study was to evaluate the physicochemical (pH, color, water retention capacity, cooking losses, shear force, iron content, and lipid oxidation) and sensory characteristics of koftas and sausages prepared from lamb meat and enriched with sheep liver. Meat from eight lambs weaned at 60 days and slaughtered at a body weight of 32.0 +/- 0.2 kg was used. Percentages of 10 and 20% sheep liver were included in koftas and of 15 and 30% in sausages. A completely randomized experimental design was used and the data were submitted to analysis of variance and regression. The inclusion of liver in koftas linearly increased pH (P=0.001) and shear force (P=0.028), and reduced luminosity (P=0.005) and lipid oxidation at the time of (P=0.001) and 24 hours after (P=0.004) fabrication of the products. In sausages, the inclusion of liver linearly increased shear force (P=0.03). The inclusion of liver exerted decreasing linear effects on the scores related to the flavor of kofta and sausage products (P=0.001 and 0.033, respectively) and a quadratic effect (P=0.008) on the overall acceptance of sausages. Although the inclusion of liver altered some relevant quality-related attributes of sheep koftas and sausages, the physicochemical and sensory characteristics were not compromised.