Lead, cadmium and copper residues were determined in 20 cattles and 20 sheep which were slaughtered at Zagazig abattoir in El-Sharkia govemorate. The weight of the examined slaughtered cattles ranged from 290 to 370 kg and their ages were less than 3 years, while the weight of the examide slaughtered sheep ranged from 38 to 50 kg and their ages were less than 4 years. The residues of these heavy metals were detected in muscle, liver and kidney of each animal by using Atomic Absorption Spectrophotomcter. The obtained results revealed that the mean values + S.E. of lead residues in muscles, livers and kidneys of slaughtered cattles were 0.881 + 0.060, 1.102 + 0.064 and 1.284 + 0.081 p.p.m wet weight, rednt and in slaughtered sheep were 0.735 + 0.120,1.026 + 0.064 and 1.237 + 0.121 p.p.m wet Wight ,respectively; while the mean values + S.E of cadmium residues in cattles were 0.309 + 0.029, 0.319 + 0.027 and 0.390 + 0.030 p.p.m Wet weight ,respectively ; and in sheep were 1.066 +0.015 , 1.196 + 0.026 and 1.290 + 0.022 p.p.m Wet Wight ,respectively; the mean values + S.E of copper residues in cattles were1.184 , 0.077, 19.007 +0.404 and 2.161 + 0.060 p.p.m wet weight, respectively; and in sheep were. 193 Oo+ 0.041, 37.193 + 1.078 and 3.549 +0.202ppm wet weight, respectively. The present results were evaluated according to the permissible limits of WHO (1972), FAO/WHO (1972) and Egyptian Organization for Standardization and Quality Control. "E.0.S.Q.C." (1993). It could be concluded that lead, cadmium and copper residues in slaughtered cattles and sheep were within the permissible limits except cadmium residues in slaughtered sheep were higher than the permissible limits of FAO/WHO (1972) and E.0.S.Q.C. (1993), also copper residues in sheep liver were higher than the permissible limits, recommended by Casarett and Doull (1975). The public health importance and sources of meat contamination by heavy metals were discussed.