Comparison of meat and carcass sensory quality in organically and conventionally pasture-fed lambs at two levels of herbage availability

We compared the sensory qualities of meat and carcasses from pasture-fed lambs reared organically or conventionally (O vs. C) at 2 levels of herbage availability (High H vs. Low L). Mean lamb growth profile was kept similar between the two production systems. The experiment was conducted over 2 years from weaning until slaughter with 12 OH, OL, CH and CL Limousine castrated lambs each year. The O and C treatments differed in the level of on-pasture mineral N fertilisation. The experimental pastures were regrowths; the H and L pastures were rotationnally managed to lead to a mean lamb age at slaughter of 5 and 6 months in the H and L groups respectively. Sensory evaluation indicated that the overall liking of loin chops was lower in the O than in the C treatment. Redness of longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle after 2h blooming was higher in the L than in the H treatment, sheding some light on the potential effect of the intensification of organic farming via an increase in stocking rate.