RESUMEN
Water restriction periods were evaluated in crossbred lambs (nâ¯=â¯32) distributed in one of four treatments: without water restriction, water restriction for 24, 48 and 72â¯h. The water restriction for 72â¯h reduced the water and dry matter intakes, body weight at slaughter and hot and cold carcass yields. Water restriction did not affect the weight of the carcass cuts and the chemical composition of the meat. The fatty acid EPA increased and DHA reduced with increasing water restriction period. There was an increasing linear effect for meat shear force, with less force (30.5â¯N/cm2) for sheep meat without water restriction and higher force (45.8â¯N/cm2) for those with water restriction for 72â¯h. The period of 24â¯h of water restriction was the one that promoted the highest similarities in the characteristics assessed to those in animals receiving water ad libitum. Therefore, water restriction periods should not exceed 24â¯h for feedlot animals in situations of severe water shortage.