The influence of sheep production systems on the environment of the Me
diterranean area and the different productive systems of lamb in Spain
ape described. Moreover the actual knowledge (90s decade) about facto
rs influencing the quality of lamb meal is reviewed, highlighting the
importance of productive and pre-slaughter factors on carcass quality
and post-slaughter factors on meat quality. Also the significance of c
ulinary cultural background on the acceptance of sheep meat is discuss
ed. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. AN rights reserved.