Beta-adrenergic agonists, ractopamine hydrochloride and salbutamol, as performance enhancers in the finisher pig

Abstract

Ractopamine HCl and salbutamol are beta-adrenergic agonists that enhance the performance indicators of pigs when administered in their diet. The aim of the study was to determine the effect of ractopamine HCl and salbutamol on the performance of the finisher pig. A total of 440 pigs (Topigs TN70) served as the subject. The pigs were divided into 40 pens of 11 each. The pigs were fed 5 different treatments in the finisher phase, the 5 treatments were: 1. Negative control (NC): No additives included (16% crude protein (CP) in finisher diet) 2. Positive control: Ractopamine HCl inclusion (6 mg/kg of feed) and current recommendation of 16% CP in the finisher diet. 3. Ractopamine HCl (6 mg/kg of feed), but only 13% CP in the finisher diet while dietary essential amino acid concentrations were similar to the positive control diet. 4. NC diet + salbutamol 10% at 6 mg/kg 5. NC diet + salbutamol 10% at 4 mg/kg The pigs were fed the same diets in the grower phases 1, 2 and 3, the diets consisted of mainly maize, soya, wheat bran sunflower oil cake and a grower vitamin and mineral premix. Feed intake, live weight gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were measured. Cold carcass weight, warm carcass weight, lean percentage, dressing percentage and moisture loss were also measured. There were significant differences (p<0.05) in live weight gain, FCR, feed intake and lean percentage when comparing the group fed salbutamol with the group fed ractopamine HCl and the group without the beta-agonist in their diet. The group of pigs fed salbutamol in their diet had performed significantly (p<0.05) better. However, this group, together with the group of pigs fed ractopamine HCl, exhibited a higher return on investment (ROI) during the study. In conclusion, ractopamine HCL and salbutamol enhanced the performance of finisher pigs during this study, although it is expedient to validate these findings for future studies.