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.
