Effects of Ractopamine Hydrochloride on Growth Performance and Carcass Characteristics in Wool and Hair Lambs

This study aimed at evaluating the effects of ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of wool and hair lambs. For this purpose, 48 lambs averaging 31.3 kg body weight, of which twenty were wool (Ramboullet x Suffolk) and twenty eight were hair (Tabasco) lamb...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inItalian journal of animal science Vol. 12; no. 2; p. e32
Main Authors Romero-Maya, Ángel M., Herrera-Haro, José G., Pinos-Rodríguez, Juan M., García-López, Juan C., Bárcena-Gama, Ricardo, González-Muñoz, Sergio S.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published Bologna Taylor & Francis 01.01.2013
Taylor & Francis Ltd
PAGEPress Publications
Taylor & Francis Group
Subjects
Body weight
Carcass
Carcass, Growth, Lamb, Meat, Ractopamine
Diet
Dry matter
Growth
Hair
Lamb
Meat
Physical growth
Ractopamine
Ractopamine hydrochloride
Wool
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Summary:This study aimed at evaluating the effects of ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) on growth performance and carcass characteristics of wool and hair lambs. For this purpose, 48 lambs averaging 31.3 kg body weight, of which twenty were wool (Ramboullet x Suffolk) and twenty eight were hair (Tabasco) lambs, and four levels of RAC (0, 10, 20, and 30 mg/kg diet, dry matter basis) were used. Wool lambs fed 20 and 30 mg RAC had higher (P<0.05) total gain weight and lower feed conversion than 0 and 10 mg RAC. Wool lambs fed 20 mg RAC had the highest carcass weight, dressing, legs weight and longissimus area as compared to 0, 10 and 30 mg RAC. In hair lambs there were not effect of RAC on growth performance and carcass characteristics. It was concluded that addition of RAC to finishing diets offered the best growth performance and carcass traits in wool lambs as compared to hair lambs.
ISSN:1828-051X
1594-4077
1828-051X
DOI:10.4081/ijas.2013.e32