Effect of weaning age and slaughter weight on carcass and meat quality of Talaverana breed lambs raised at pasture

Three weaning treatments (weaning at 45 days of age, at 65 days of age, unw eaned) and two slaughter weights (24 and 28 kg) were compared in lambs rais ed at pasture, and their effect on carcass and meat traits were studied. Un weaned lambs displayed a greater growth rate, lower concentrate consumption , greater dorsal fat thickness, more kidney knob and channel fat and greate r total fat levels, measured through dissection of the hind limb. Total col lagen concentration was lower in unweaned lambs and the intramuscular fat o f these same animals exhibited a greater proportion of saturated fatty acid s and a lower n-6/n-3 fatty acid ratio. Slaughter weight influenced scored carcass fatness, which was greater in heavier lambs, meat colour, which dis played greater lightness in lower-weight lambs, and water-holding capacity, which was lower in lambs with the lower slaughter weight. The heavier lamb s displayed lower soluble collagen values, and the intramuscular fat of the longissimus dorsi muscle of these same lambs contained higher levels of mo nounsaturated and lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids.