In Valle Stura di Demonte (NW Italian Alps), sheep breeding is a traditional activity based on Alpine summer pasture exploitation. This study aimed to assess the meat quality of heavy lambs. Sixteen Sambucana lamb in vivo and slaughter traits were surveyed. The nutritional characteristics, as well as the physical and technological properties of the meat, were analysed. On the basis of a survey on the composition and quality of summer pasture vegetation, a grazing management more compatible with the herbage conservation and regeneration was defined. In order to individuate the optimal moment for sheep exploitation, four pastoral vegetation types were studied, and quality “routes” that shepherds should adopt to ensure the best forage quality were drawn. The relation between breeding systems, grazing land management and meat quality still have to be specified by further research.