ABSTRACT
Several ways to measure the length of Al-sarcomere for myofibrillar of meat has been developed because of its importance in determining the freshness and quality of the meat, including the use of mono spectrum gaseous laser mode and the method of immersion in oil and then examining by microscope. Because of the preferential use of laser method to measure the length of Al-sarcomere and the lack of availability of this special device in the central laboratories in Iraq a laser device has been designed and manufactured to measure the length of Al-sarcomere and an evaluation has been made of the efficiency and accuracy of the device, then it has been compared with some chemical, physical and sensory measurements that are used as indicators of the state of the meat. This device consists of laser ruler which is a collection of pipes made of stainless iron (steel) linked together to form the structure of the dimensions (114 × 9 × 3 cm) three holders with holder of installation are based upon. The first holds laser cylinder and the second carries fiber where the length of Al-sarcomer will be known by it and the third carries a board to fall on it the laser beam. The second part is a laser cylinder which works on the principle of inert gases (Helium, neon, and laser.) The length of the total cylinder ( 13 cm ) and outer diameter ( 4 cm ) whereas the laser Albem dimension is ( 0.45 cm) and wavelength 654 nm with a red color . The capacity of laser is 0.05 milli watts . The laser cylinder is connected to volt fixation device which relates to a raising volt device which in turn relates to the source of electric power in the laboratory. The third part is a device to detect, convert and read laser signal which records the laser dispersion where it saves the image , processed and sent to a computer program for this program will give readings on the axes X- and y- recording the amount of dispersion digitally and figurehead .The fourth part is the computer , which in turn gives READINGS to pry dispersion on the X- and y axis – giving graphs to perform laser dispersion recording the highest values (Beak) through the use of program Beak.
Several experiments were conducted to test the device and compared with chemical , physical and sensory ways and through the results that were obtained it is proved that the measuring device of the length of Al-sarcomere , locally manufactured ” is characterized by precision in the measurement of lengths Al-sarcomeres and detected indicator of some physico- chemical and sensory characteristics in meat . this has been proven by correlation of coefficient higher factories < 0.01P) , which measured among the device readings and some chemical , physical and sensory characteristics of the samples of different types of sheep , cows and poultry meat which are physically and chemically different areas in the carcasses. A device of measuring the length of Al-sarcomere has been manufactures as shown in Figures ( 3 and 4) by the Department of Mechanization Agricultural in the College of Agriculture / University of Baghdad, according to specifications set by preliminary experiments that were conducted for several times to get to the optimal specifications that meet the best and most reliable results.