An experiment was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effect of different lysine levels in diets supplemented or not with ractopamine (RAC) on the performance and carcass characteristics of finishing barrows. Forty commercial hybrid swines were distributed to a randomized experimental block design, in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement, with two digestible lysine levels (0.67 and 0.87%), with adjustment for the others amino acids to achieve an ideal protein relationship, and two levels of RAC (0 and 5.0 ppm) in a period of 28 days. Supplementation with RAC resulted in a higher daily weight gain and of daily lean meat deposition rate, and better feed conversion. The lysine levels did not affect the performance of the animals, however there was a reduction of backfat thickness on P1 and P2 points and increased the daily lean meat deposition rate on the carcass of swine fed with diets containing 0.87% of digestible lysine when in vivo evaluated. In conclusion, performance and carcass characteristics of swine fed with diets supplemented with RAC in the finishing phase improved; however the effect of RAC on the loin depth was higher for the higher level of 0.87% of digestible lysine.
addictive; amino acids; feeding; lean meat; nutrition; nutritional requirement
