ECONOMICAL EVALUATION OF RACTOPAMINE INCLUSION IN DIETS OF FINISHING GILTS/AVALIACAO ECONOMICA DA INCLUSAO DE RACTOPAMINA EM DIETAS PARA FEMEAS SUINAS EM FASE DE TERMINACAO/EVALUACION ECONOMICA DE INCLUSION DE RACTOPAMINA EN DIETAS PARA HEMBRAS PORCINAS EN FASE DE ENGORDA

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.