The present work was carried out in the Ovine Sector at the Zootecnia Department of the UFSM-RS. It aimed to evaluate the influence of the weaning period age on performance and carcass characteristics of lambs. Ten Ile de France X Texel lambs were confined with their mothers until the weaning period in individual stalls with lath-work floor. After the weaning, each lamb was kept in the same stall until it got the slaughter weight - 28 kg. The animals were randomly distributed in two groups of treatment: DESM 35 - lamb weaned at 35 days and DESM 42 - lamb weaned at 42 days. The supplied food was calculated according to the National Research Council, and was composed of sorghum silage and concentrate. No significant difference (P>0,05) were observed for the variables weight at delivery and weaning, average daily weight gain from delivery to weaning and from weaning to the slaughter and also for the ending time between the treatments. Warm and cold carcass weight, formation, carcass yield, fattening state, leg length, chest depth, thigh density, marbling and fat thickness did not present differences (P>0.05). The carcass length was superior (P<0.05) in DESM35 (55.52 cm) than DESM42 (54.30 cm). The commercial yield profits were similar (P>0.05), and the percentual values were 39.80% in ribs, 33.97% in leg and 38.06% in shoulder. The weaning at 35 days can be done if a good nutritional level is provided.
