The effect of feeding the beta-adrenergic agonist ractopamine on the behaviour of market-weight pigs

A total of 86 ad libitum fed Lacombe bred barrows and gilts weighing on average 90 kg were used to determine the effect of feeding ractopamine on animal behaviour. Four treatment groups consisted of a control (N = 22) and three levels of ractopamine (10 ppm (N = 15), 15 ppm (N = 24) and 20 ppm (N = 25) in the diet). The pigs received the ractopamine treatments for 5–6 wk prior to behavioural observations. There was little effect of ractopamine on behaviour. The ractopamine-fed pigs were observed to lie down in a group more frequently (P = 0.06) and to walk around their pen less frequently (P = 0.01). No abnormal, stereotyped, agonistic or aggressive behaviour was induced by the ractopamine. The data from the present study suggest that ractopamine, added to the diet of market-weight pigs at levels reported, does not cause marked changes in behaviour. Key words: Pig behaviour, beta-adrenergic agonists, ractopamine