The objective of this trial was to evaluate the effects of castration and slaughtering age on subjective and instrumental characteristics of meat from Corriedale lambs raised on native pasture. Sixty male lambs (30 castrated and 30 intact) slaughtered at 120, 210 and 360 days of age were used in this experiment. The Longissimus dorsi muscle was used for all meat evaluations and analysis. No significant castration × slaughtering age interaction was observed for the studied variables. A significant slaughtering age effect was found for meat fat thickness and marbling, which had lower scores in animals slaughtered at more advanced age as well as for all instrumental characteristics of the meat, mainly tenderness that was reduced in older lambs. However, a significant castration effect was observed only for meat color (brightness according to the CIELAB system). It can be concluded that meat quality from Corriedale lambs grazing native pasture was not affected by castration. Slaughtering age affected meat quality with lambs slaughtered at 120 days of age showing the best results.
color; pH; quality; sheep; tenderness
