Resumen
- Lamb meat production in Brazil is conducted in many ways, according to location, and the level of technologies and investment applied to it. Confinement systems consist of raising livestock in closed areas, often with large amounts of grains in their diets. Pasture-based systems consist of raising livestock in pasture areas, with or without accesss to concentrated feed. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of the management system on the performance of lambs finished in confinement and pasture. The study included 58 lambs, divided randomly into two finishing systems (pasture n= 28 and confinement n= 30) and into three blocks according to their initial weight. The animals were slaughtered after 60 days of experimental period. The lambs finished in confinement were heavier and had higher carcass yield than those fished in pasture. However, the lambs finished in pasture had higher percentages of noble cuts of meat (arms and legs) in their carcass.