Abstract: The aim of this study was to evaluate the meat quality of the hybrids of Dorper sheep and Bayannur prolific sheep. The F₁ crossbred lambs of Dorper sheep × Bayannur prolific sheep as well as the local sheep lambs in Korla of Xinjiang were selected. The physical and chemical indicators, nutritional components content and mineral content of the muscle tissues of the lambs were determined by routine methods, and the differences between the varieties of lambs were statistically compared. The results showed that the pH_{45 min} value and cooked meat percentage of the muscle samples from the F₁ crossbred lambs of Dorper sheep and Bayannur prolific sheep were significantly higher than that of the local sheep lambs （P<0.05）, and the shear force and water loss rate were significantly lower than that of the local sheep lambs （P<0.05）; the F₁ crossbred lambs had significantly lower crude ash content （P<0.05） but significantly higher crude protein and crude fat content （P<0.05） in muscle samples compared to the local sheep lambs; extremely significantly higher iron content （P<0.01） and significantly higher content of copper, manganese, magnesium, calcium and zinc （P<0.05） was observed in muscle samples from F₁ crossbred lambs compared to the local sheep lambs. The combined data suggest that the F₁ crossbred lambs of Dorper sheep and Bayannur prolific sheep performed better in meat quality than the local sheep lambs.

Key words: F₁ crossbred lambs, muscle, meat quality, nutritional value