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The effect of feeding ractopamine on growth performance, carcass composition, meat quality and cortisol concentration in purebred Berkshire swine

Betts, Katherine S.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1308162466

Abstract Details

2011, Master of Science, Ohio State University, Animal Sciences.
The study evaluated the effects of a 28 d pre-harvest ractopamine (RAC) feeding program on average daily gain (ADG), feed conversion efficiency (FC), backfat (BF) and loin muscle area (LMA), pork loin quality, and cortisol concentration in purebred Berkshire pigs (n = 117) utilizing a randomized complete block design with three treatments (Control (C), 0 ppm; RAC5, 5.0 ppm; RAC10; 10 ppm) in four replicates. Litter-mate pigs were randomly assigned to each of the three treatments within a replicate. Ultrasonic BF and LMA, pig weight, and salivary cortisol concentrations were measured at days 0, 7, 14, 21, and 28 of the feeding period. Blood was collected during harvest at exsanguination for plasma cortisol measurements. Carcass composition and pork quality (NPPC, 2000; visual color, marbling, firmness, and wetness and instrumental measures of ultimate pH and Minolta L*, a*, and b* were assessed at 24h post-harvest. Mixed model procedures of SAS were used in analyses. Fixed effects were treatment, sex, and a treatment x sex interaction, with sex and interaction effects removed if not significant (P > 0.10). Random effects included replication and litter nested within replication. Individual ADG was greater (P < 0.05) for RAC10 when compared with C and RAC5 by d 14 and through d 28, while pigs fed RAC5 had greater ADG than the C from d 1 to 14 and d 1 to 21 (P < 0.05) only. However, when assessed on a pen basis, ADG was not different across the 28 d feeding period. Feeding RAC5 or RAC10 improved pen FC throughout the trial when compared with pens fed the C diet (P < 0.05); however, no differences were observed between RAC5 and RAC10. Serial ultrasonic measures of BF were significantly decreased in RAC10 pigs from 95 to 120 kg of BW when compared to C pigs and from 115 to 120 kg BW when compared to RAC5 pigs. Pigs fed RAC5 had decreased BF from 110 to 120 kg BW when compared to C. Ultrasonic measures of LMA were increased in RAC10 pigs from 105 to 120 kg BW when compared to C, however no differences were seen between RAC5 and RAC10 fed pigs throughout the trial. Carcass LMA of RAC10 was greater than C (P < 0.05) and BF was less than RAC5 and C (P < 0.05). Carcass fat-free lean percentage was greater for pigs fed RAC10 (P < 0.05) when compared with carcasses of pigs fed C and RAC5 diets. Neither RAC5 nor RAC10 diets influenced fresh loin quality, as there were no differences in visual color, marbling, firmness, wetness, or L*. However, ultimate pH was greater for the RAC10 treatment when compared with C. On d 0, baseline cortisol concentrations did not differ between treatment groups. No differences in salivary or plasma cortisol concentrations were observed between treatments regardless of day. Final results indicate feeding ractopamine improved feed conversion efficiency, maintained (RAC5), or improved (RAC10) carcass lean content and, therefore, value without negatively influencing pig cortisol concentrations or pork loin quality.
Steven Moeller, Dr. (Advisor)
Henry Zerby, Dr. (Advisor)
Francis Fluharty, Dr. (Committee Member)
118 p.
Animal Sciences
Pigs; Ractopamine; Carcass composition; Meat quality; Behavior

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Betts, K. S. (2011). The effect of feeding ractopamine on growth performance, carcass composition, meat quality and cortisol concentration in purebred Berkshire swine [Master's thesis, Ohio State University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1308162466

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Betts, Katherine. The effect of feeding ractopamine on growth performance, carcass composition, meat quality and cortisol concentration in purebred Berkshire swine. 2011. Ohio State University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1308162466.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Betts, Katherine. "The effect of feeding ractopamine on growth performance, carcass composition, meat quality and cortisol concentration in purebred Berkshire swine." Master's thesis, Ohio State University, 2011. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=osu1308162466

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

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© 2011, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by The Ohio State University and OhioLINK.