02926naa a2200229 a 450000100080000000500110000800800410001902200140006002400280007410000160010224501270011826000090024550003370025452018840059165300190247565300170249465300260251170000140253770000170255170000160256877301120258410645032024-03-20       2024    bl uuuu     u00u1 u    #d  a2575-985X7 a10.22175/mmb.160892DOI1 aCOUGO, A.C.  aCarcass and meat quality of lambs from intensive grazing systems differing in the age of slaughter.h[electronic resource]  c2024  aArticle history: Submitted 7 February 2023, Accepted 19 December 2023. -- Correspondence: Cougo, A.C.; Instituto Nacional de Investigación Agropecuaria (INIA), Estación Experimental Tacuarembó, Tacuarembó, Uruguay; email:anacarolinacougo@gmail.com  -- License: This is an open access article distributed under the CC BY license.  aABSTRACT.- Ninety lambs reared on pastures were slaughtered for 2 y corresponding to 3 ages of slaughter: At weaning with 4 mo of age (4M), at 6-7 mo of age (6M), and at 12 mo of age (12M; last treatments were weaned at 4 mo). With the purpose of deseasonalizing high-quality meat lamb production in the year, the present work aimed to achieve hot carcass weight (HCW) of 18?20 kg on average in each lamb group. Hot carcass weight, carcass yield (CYd), subcutaneous tissue depth, leg, frenched rack, and loin weights were determined. After meat ageing for 7 and 14 d from the 3 groups of lambs, instrumental color, Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF), consumer sensory analysis (n = 200), and fatty acid profile of intra muscular fat (IMF) were determined on longissimus lumborum muscle. Lambs of 12M resulted in greater HCW (P < 0.05). The young lambs (4M) presented a greater subcutaneous fat coverage and CYd (P < 0.05). Lambs of 12M presented a greater proportion of legs (P < 0.05) regarding HCW. Meat color from 4M lambs was lighter (greater L* values) when aged for 7 and 14 d and showed lower WBSF values with 14 d of ageing (P < 0.05). A greater proportion of IMF (P < 0.05) was observed in 12M and 4M lambs, but the latter presented a greater proportion of conjugated linoleic acid (P < 0.05) and polyunsaturated fatty acid to saturated fatty acid ratio (P < 0.05). Older lambs (12M) showed a lower n6/n3 fatty acid ratio (P < 0.05) and a greater concentration of &#945;-tocopherol (P < 0.05). Meat from the 3 groups of lambs was scored positively (i.e., at least between "I like moderately" and "I like slightly") for overall liking when evaluated by consumers. Although significant differences were observed among the 3 groups of lambs, slaughter age in lambs until 12M seems to have a minor effect on product quality from a practical standpoint. © 2024 Cougo, et al.  aDe-seasonalize  aMeat quality  aPasture-based systems1 aBRITO, G.1 aDE SOUZA, G.1 aLUZARDO, S.  tMeat and Muscle Biology. 2024, 8(1): 16089, 1-12. doi: https://doi.org/10.22175/mmb.16089  --- OPEN ACCESS.