Ractopamine concentration on the lipid profile of swine fat and meat

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of ractopamine concentrations on swine fat and meat lipid profiles. Ninety finishing barrows, initially weighing 71.9±4.4kg, were distributed in a randomized block design in three ractopamine concentrations (0, 10 and 20ppm) with fifteen replicates of two animals in each. Gas chromatography was used to analyze the lipid profiles of backfat and meat. The inclusion of ractopamine in the diet changed (P<0.05) α-linolenic acid and eicosatrienoic acid concentrations in the backfat but did not affect (P>0.05) any of the other fatty acids or indexes evaluated. In the meat, a significant effect (P<0.05) was observed on nine fatty acids evaluated, with a decrease (P<0.05) in lauric, myristic, and palmitic fatty acids, and an increase (P<0.05) in linoleic, γ-linolenic, dihomo-γ-linolenic, and eicosapentaenoic acid. Ractopamine also affected (P<0.05) the concentration of α-linolenic and arachidonic acid in the meat (P<0.05). The indexes evaluated were also affected (P<0.05). Addition of 10ppm decreased the saturated fatty acid concentration, atherogenic index, thrombogenic index and omega 6: omega 3, while it increased unsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids concentrations. Ractopamine addition had less effect on the backfat than on the meat, and the 10ppm level improved the meat lipid profile.