Abstract
The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance and carcass yield of finishing castrated males and females pigs, supplemented with diets containing different levels of ractopamine. Sixty animals were used, with initial body weight of 84.27 ± 2.26kg, distributed in a randomized block design, consisting of six levels of ractopamine (0; 3; 6; 9; 12 and 15ppm) and five repetitions per treatment. At the end of the trial period, it was evaluated the effect of different levels of ractopamine on the final body weight (FW), average daily feed intake (ADFI), average daily weight gain (ADG), feed conversion (FC) and carcass yield. It was observed a linear increase (P<0,05) in the levels of ractopamine for final weight, as well as for the average daily weight gain. For feed conversion (P<0,05), it was evident a decrease of 25.50% in animals supplemented with 15ppm of ractopamine in the diet. For average daily feed intake and carcass yield there was no significant effect (P>0,05). The supplementation with ractopamine in the diet of finishing castrated males and females pigs, provides greater performance to the animals, improving production yield.
beta-adrenergic agonist animal; meat production; productivity