Economical evaluation of ractopamine inclusion in diets of finishing gilts

Abstract

The use of adrenergic agonists such as ractopamine leads to lean carcasses due to an increase
in muscle deposition. The effects of ractopamine on performance and carcass traits in pigs
may be varied depending on the level of agonist and amino acids, especially lysine, on diet,
sex and age of the animals at the beginning of the additive supply. These factors, as well as
the feed cost and the adoption or not the carcass classification influence the economic
viability of the use of ractopamine. The economic analysis, therefore, is necessary to evaluate
the feasibility of ractopamine inclusion in diets of finishing gilts. This study aimed to evaluate
the addition of ractopamine at 0, 5, 10 and 15 mg/kg of diets for gilts slaughtered with 110 kg,
on feed cost, gross and net incomes, considering or not the carcass rewarding. A total of 468
gilts were used and fed for 28 days. There was an increase in feed cost and linear decrease in
net income without carcass rewarding with raising level of additive. For net income with
carcass rewarding, there was a linear effect with higher income for the level of 15 mg/kg.
Considering the carcass classification, the inclusion of ractopamine at the level of 15 mg/kg
promotes higher income.