To determine the effect of rearing system on meat quality, lipid and amino acid profiles of lambs, 24 Hu lambs (12 rams and 12 ewes) were randomly divided into 2 treatments: ewe-reared (ER) or weaned at d 10 and fed milk replacer (MR). Ewe milk or MR was available from 0 to 60 d and a creep feed was offered ad libitum to all lambs from d 15 to 90. The fatty acid and amino acid composition of the diet and meat samples were determined by gas chromatography and automated dedicated amino acid analyzer, respectively. All data were analyzed using t-test procedure of SAS. Lambs fed MR had a greater growth rate (P = 0.03) and creep feed intake (P < 0.001) than those in ER treatment. Lambs fed MR had a greater harvest weight (P = 0.003), HCW (P = 0.004) and fat thickness over L dorsi (P = 0.05) compared with those of ER treatment. The meat of lambs in MR treatment had lesser L* (P = 0.04) and b* (P = 0.02). There was no difference (P = 0.82) in a* values between the 2 treatments. Lambs fed MR had greater ether extract content (P = 0.003) than that in ER treatment. No differences were found in crude protein (P = 0.58) and ash (P = 0.11) between 2 treatments. The content of unsaturated fatty acids and monounsaturated fatty acids in meat were greater (P = 0.02) for MR treatment compared with ER treatment. On the contrary, the proportion of saturated fatty acids in ER treatment was greater (P = 0.03) than that in MR treatment. The proportion of C14:0 of ER lambs was greater (P = 0.01) than that in MR treatment, while the proportion of C18:0 (P = 0.003), C18:2 (P = 0.04), C18:3 (P = 0.008) and the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids (P = 0.002) and saturated fatty acids (P/S) (P = 0.03) were lesser than those of MR treatment. The proportion of leucine (P = 0.003), alanine (P < 0.001), tyrosine (P = 0.002), and proline (P < 0.001) were greater, while histidine (P = 0.014) was lesser for lambs of MR treatment compared with those of ER treatment. In conclusion, the MR rearing system could increase meat production and improve the proportion of lipid and amino acid profiles of lambs.