Lamb

A lamb is a young sheep, usually under one year old.

A lamb is a young sheep, usually under one year old. The term also refers to the meat from a young sheep. Lambs are domesticated herd animals raised widely for meat, wool, and other products, and they have been among the earliest animals domesticated by humans. In Canada, lamb is a familiar livestock and meat term, with sheep farming and lamb production forming part of Canadian agriculture and food markets.

Definition

Lamb is the term for a young sheep, typically one that is less than a year old. In food contexts, it also means meat from a sheep of this age. Adult sheep are usually called rams if male and ewes if female.

Biology and behaviour

Lambs are herbivorous ruminants and depend on milk early in life before grazing on plants. They are known for being active and for developing within a flock structure shared with other sheep. Lambs are usually smaller and have softer wool than adult sheep.

Domestication and use by humans

Sheep are among the earliest domesticated livestock species, with long use in agriculture for meat, wool, milk, leather, and other products. Lamb has remained an important food animal in many regions. Sheep were domesticated thousands of years ago and have long been important for meat and wool.

Lamb in food terminology

In meat classification, lamb is distinguished from mutton, which comes from older sheep. Lamb meat is generally described as milder and more tender than mutton.