Effects of pantothenic acid on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing-finishing pigs fed diets with or without ractopamine hydrochloride

Two experiments evaluated effects of added pantothenic acid on performance of growing- finishing pigs. In Exp. 1, 156 pigs ( PIC, initial BW = 25.7 kg) were used in a 3 x 2 x 2 factorial to evaluate the effects of added pantothenic acid ( PA; 0, 22.5, or 45 ppm), ractopamine center dot HCl ( RAC; 0 or 10 mg/ kg), and sex on growth performance and carcass traits. Pigs were fed increasing PA from 25.7 to 123.6 kg ( d 0 to 98) and RAC for the last 28 d before slaughter. Increasing the amount of added PA had no effect ( P > 0.40) on ADG, ADFI, or G: F from d 0 to 70. A PA x sex interaction ( P < 0.03) was observed for ADG and G: F from d 71 to 98. Increasing the amount of added PA increased ADG and G: F in gilts, but not in barrows. Increasing the amount of added PA had no effect ( P > 0.38) on carcass traits. Added RAC increased ( P < 0.01) ADG and G: F for d 71 to 98 and d 0 to 98 and increased ( P < 0.01) LM area and percentage lean. In Exp. 2, 1,080 pigs ( PIC, initial BW = 40.4 kg, final BW = 123.6 kg) were used to determine the effects of increasing PA on growth performance and carcass characteristics of growing- finishing pigs reared in a commercial finishing facility. Pigs were fed 0, 22.5, 45.0, or 90 mg/ kg of added PA. Increasing the amount of added PA had no effect ( P > 0.45) on ADG, ADFI, or G: F, and no differences were observed ( P > 0.07) for carcass traits. In summary, adding dietary PA to diets during the growing- finishing phase did not provide any advantages in growth performance or carcass composition of growing- finishing pigs. Furthermore, it appears that the pantothenic acid in corn and soybean meal may be sufficient to meet the requirements of 25- to 120- kg pigs.