Effects of the use of ractopamine in pregnant sows on reproductive and blood parameters

Abstract

The effects of the use of ractopamine (20 ppm per sow and day) in sows were evaluated during three different pregnancy stages (T1: 25 to 50; T2: 50 to 80; T3: 25 to 80 days of gestation, and T4: control-no ractopamine), assessing possible effects on reproduction, litter performance up to weaning, blood parameters, as well as on some of the biochemistry parameters at 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 days of pregnancy. Forty sows were included in the trial for the evaluation of reproductive measures and litter performance. As to blood counts, a total of 10 sows were used. The use of 20 ppm of ractopamine during the three pregnancy stages had no effects on reproductive measures, litter performance or blood values, when compared to the control. However, total cholesterol, high density lipids and triglyceride values were different (P<0.05) between treated and control sows (71.80 mg dlE-1 vs 65.04 mg dlE-1; 42.30 mg dlE-1 vs 37.00 mg dlE-1, and 59.40 mg dlE-1 vs 53.40 mg dlE-1, respectively), indicating the action of the drug on protein and lipid metabolism. This experiment demonstrated that the use of ractopamine in pregnant sows did not affect the performance of the sows and the progeny until weaning.