<b>Manure production and mineral excretion in feces of gilts fed ractopamine</b> - doi: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v35i3.18662

Resumo

A study was conducted to evaluate the feces+urine produced per animal (FUPA), dry
matter, mineral matter, organic matter, nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and sulfur in feces of gilts fed
diets with increasing levels of ractopamine (0, 5, 10 and 15 mg kg-1 of diet). A total of 468 finishing gilts
were allotted into 36 pens. In two days of each week, feces and urine were daily sampled in four pens per
treatment, quantifying the feces+urine. To determine the characterization of feces, two samples per week
were taken daily, in nine pens per treatment. It was used a split plot design, considering the ractopamine
level as the plot and the weeks as the subplots. There was no reduction in nitrogen amount in feces. An
interaction was detected between ractopamine concentrations and weeks for FUPA and phosphorus,
potassium and sulfur in feces. Ractopamine addition in diets for gilts has reduced the feces+urine
production and nitrogen and phosphorus excretion. Higher values estimated for potassium content in feces
of animals fed diets with 10 and 15 mg of ractopamine kg-1 were found between the second and third week.
Increasing levels of ractopamine from 5 to 15 mg kg-1 promoted higher excretion of sulfur over the weeks
of supply.