An experiment was conducted to assess the effect of two slaughter methods and three methods of muscle fixation on the microstructure of pig muscle. The muscle from the pigs stunned with a captive bolt had a much lower average pH 1 (5,50) than the unstunned pigs (6,70). Statistically significant differences in fibre diameter due to method of slaughter and method of fixation were recorded. “Giant fibres” as described by Cassens, Cooper & Briskey (1969) were found in muscle samples taken from pigs slaughtered by both methods.
