Inverkan av β-agonister (ractopamine) på grisars tillväxt och köttansättning

Abstract: Both authorities and consumer demands require a high standard for today’s food production. A product has to be of good quality, have an affordable price and be nutritious. A solution for pig production in the US is a feed additive that provides the opportunity to market heavier pigs with a high percentage of muscle and a low proportion of adipose tissue. The feed additive is marketed under the name Paylean® with the active substance called Ractopamine Hydrochloride (RAC), with similar characteristics as of β-adrenergic agonists. β-adrenergic agonists are banned as feed additive for animals within the EU and a hundred other countries around the world. This report will summarize whether the addition of RAC in the diet has effects on fattening pig’s physiological effects, affecting their meat quality and if it does lead to unwanted side effects. In the chemical group in which RAC is included, there are several known substances; for example epinephrine and amphetamine. There is very little research of possible health risks that RAC residues could have on humans. Some research has explained that pigs that are feed RAC receive a behavioral change as a side effect. The pigs are more active and alert and in some cases more aggressive towards other individuals. An increased heart rate and elevated levels of the hormones norepinephrine and epinephrine have also been revealed. Several scientists highlight the positive effects of RAC on daily growth, increased feed efficiency and a better carcass grading. The EU and the US have been negotiating for a trade agreement since 2013. A trade agreement between the EU and the US could lead to that EU will import pork that is produced under conditions that are not approved within the EU.