This study was carried outto evaluate the carcass physical composition, meat characteristics and the component conditions, non carcass live weight of lambs finished in different feeding systems. Sixteen lambs (Texel x Ile de France) were used and ramdomly allotted with their mothers, 24 hours after their birth, to three treatments: NSP - Natural supplemented pasture, RP - Ryegrass pasture (Lolium multiflorum lam.) and CON - Confinement. In relation to the cold carcass, there was no difference to the neck percentage among NSP, RP and CON, with values of 9.26, 9.20 and 9.30% respectively. The animals of NSP (33.68%) and CON (33.41%) showed similar and higher values than the RP (31.35%). The softness measured in the loin portion from the 9th to 11th ribs, by means of Warner Blatzler-Shear equipment, was of 8.6 for the confined animals, and this value was higher than those of NSP and RP animals (5.7 and 5.3, respectively). There were no treatment effectsfor the softness through the panel, tastiness and succulence. The skin percentage of RP animals (11.91) was higher than the percentage of NSP and CON animals (10.20 and 9.33%, respectively). Values of gastric content percentage were higher for CON animal s (13.62%)in relation to NSP animals (7.90%), and those ones higher than the RP animals (4.75%). The panel, as a method to determine tastiness, succulence and softness did not show difference in the lambs meat fed in natural supplemented pasture, ryegrass pasture and confinement.
gastric content; confinement; sheep; ryegrass pasture; softness; succulence; tastiness
