A
lamb is a young sheep. When eaten as meat, lamb
is taken from an animal between one month and one year old, with a carcass weight
of between 5.5 and 25 kg.
The meat of an older sheep is known as mutton.
Milk-fed
lamb is from an unweaned lamb, typically 4 to 6 weeks old and weighing 5.5
to 8 kg; this is almost unavailable in countries such as the USA and the UK, where
it is considered uneconomic. The flavour and texture of milk-fed lamb when grilled
(such as the tiny lamb chops known as chuletillas in Spain) or roasted (lechazo asado) is
generally agreed to be finer than that of older lamb. Probably the best area to
taste it is in northern Spain, including Asturias, Cantabria, Castile-Leon, and La Rioja.
See
also: List of animal names
