Evaluation of pasture-based vs. concentrate-based lamb production systems regarding growth performance, wool cortisol concentration, meat quality and microbiological properties

The aim was to investigate the growth rate, log transformed wool cortisol concentration (WCC), carcass char-acteristics, meat quality and meat microbiological properties of Akkaraman, Karya and Kivircik lambs in pasture -based (n = 93) and concentrate-based (n = 85) systems. Production system had no influence on the lamb growth rate in Akkaraman and Kivircik lambs. Weights of Karya lambs on days 90 and 120 were lower in pasture lambs than concentrate fed lambs. In some sampling days, log WCC was higher in lambs fed concentrates. Lambs of pasture-based and concentrate-based systems had similar carcass weight, dressing percentage, meat pH and shear force values in all breeds. However, meat of pasture-based system was darker with a lower L* value. Production system had no significant influence on bacterial counts, except Pseudomonas spp. counts in Akkaraman lambs. In conclusion, pasture-based system had no disadvantage in lamb finishing compared to the concentrate-based system regarding carcass characteristics and meat quality, except meat colour.