  We study $\Lambda_c^\pm$ production in $pN$ and $\pi^-N$ interactions. Recent
experimental data from the SELEX and E791 Collaborations at FNAL provide
important information on the production mechanism of charm hadrons. In
particular, the production of the $\Lambda_c$ baryon provides a good test of
the intrinsic charm and the recombination mechanisms, which have been proposed
to explain the so called leading particle effects.
