LEVELS OF RACTOPAMINE IN THE DIET AND EFFECTS ON PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS OF FINISHING PIGS

The experiment was arranged in completely randomized block desing usin g pigs fed diets with 0, 10 and 20 ppm of RAC and 16% crude protein (C P) (treatments (T) 1, 2 and 3, respectively), and 20 ppm of RAC with 1 3% CP (T4). Diets were based on corn/soybean meal. There was no signif icant (P > 0.05) difference in consumption among treatments. T2 presen ted higher average daily gain than T4 and better feed gain ratio (FG) than T1 (P < 0,05). The decrease in CP (T3 vs T4) gave worst FG (P < 0 .05). It was found that carcasses on T2 (16% CP, 10 ppm RAC), were sig nificantly (P < 0.05) lower than T1 in ham fat weight, fat thickness m easured at 10th rib and P2. There was no additional effects due to inc rease in RAC (T2 vs T3). It was concluded that there was an improvemen t in performance and carcass characteristics of swine fed 10 ppm of RA C and 16% CP.