Most judges would agree that today’s ideal show pig should be mobile, durable, fresh, lean and muscular. As pigs grow to heavier weights, muscle development and leanness can become more difficult to achieve through basic feeding programs. In this segment of the Feeding Showpigs series, we will discuss one of the most powerful feed additives developed to help fine tune your project before you hit the ring.

PAYLEAN: WHAT IS IT AND HOW DOES IT WORK?

Ractopamine hydrochloride, or most commonly known as the trade name Paylean, is a feed additive labeled to be fed only to pigs weighing at least 150 lbs and for the last 45 to 90 lbs of weight gain prior to slaughter. Paylean is a growth promoter that shifts nutrients into synthesizing more lean muscle rather than synthesizing fat deposition. Simply put, Paylean increases the size of existing muscle fibers in the pig’s composition. When fed, Paylean increases the daily gain of pigs, and when fed for the last 21 days continuously, pigs will weigh between 6 to 8 pounds heavier compared to pigs that have never been fed Paylean. Most pigs with average muscling will respond to the addition of Paylean within about 7 days of feeding.

DO I HAVE TO FEED PAYLEAN TO SUCCEED?

Absolutely not. Not every pig will require Paylean to successfully reach their end point and find success in the ring. The ideal candidate who stands to benefit from supplementation is a structurally sound pig with moderate muscling. This style of pig will have the structure and mobility to handle extra added muscle mass. However, it is important to keep in mind that not all pigs are structurally sound enough to handle the increased growth rate and muscle mass that result from feeding Paylean; thus, skeletal flaws can worsen. Knowing your animal and using common sense feeding strategies is key when deciphering if Paylean should be supplemented. 

THE PAYLEAN FEEDING BASICS

If Paylean is a solution that could benefit your project, there are several feeding basics to keep in mind. As a basic rule of thumb, Paylean should be fed for at most, 21 days prior to the show. The boost in muscle and weight gain only occurs during this 21-day period, and in most cases, the largest impact is seen within the first 2 weeks. After 28 days, pigs will generally have reduced feed intake and gain. Remember that feeding more for a longer period of time can result in severe reverse effects. The most practical recommendation is to feed 7-14 days prior to show.

The legal levels of Paylean range from 4.5 to 9 grams/ton of complete feed. The amount and time duration to feed Paylean should be evaluated based on these three factors:

Stress status of your pig

First and foremost, a stress-positive pig and Paylean are not a good combination for success, unless extreme caution and care is implemented. In general, pigs that have been fed Paylean handle stress differently than those who have not been fed Paylean. If feeding Paylean, extreme care and watchfulness should be employed when exposing your show pig to any stressful situation, including clipping, hauling, showing and mixing with other pigs. It is important to always be looking for signs of stress on the pig, including panting, tail-twitching, shaking or trembling and discoloration of the skin on white hogs.  

Amount of natural muscle they possess

As indicated previously, very heavy muscled pigs likely will not require Paylean in most cases. If a pig has a moderate level of muscle, Paylean can be employed at various levels to reach desired muscle composition. When deciphering duration to feed based on muscle composition, it’s important to note the varying effects of feeding Paylean over time. The peak response in average daily gain and feed efficiency is seen by about day 14. By day 21 these effects have begun to wane, and by day 28 growth rate can run the risk of decreasing. 

Their skeletal soundness

Paylean builds muscle rapidly, and thus should only be fed to pigs who can handle that rapid increase of muscle mass. The hope is that during selection, you’ve done a good job in picking a project that is structurally correct, who can handle additional muscling. However, just because they are sound, does not mean caution should not be used when feeding Paylean. Keep in mind as pigs increase to heavier weights, ones that were once considered sound, may begin to experience structural challenges. At heavier weights, the pig’s skeletal growth curve has slowed and can’t keep pace with muscle mass increases, resulting in added pressure on joints. Feeding Paylean at heavier weights requires additional care and observation to ensure structural challenges don’t take place. 

The timeline in which you plan to show is another critical factor to consider when developing a Paylean supplementation plan, as supplementing Paylean will affect other management factors. Since pigs respond with increased growth, the amount of amino acids and energy needs to be increased via the feed. Never limit water. Water comprises about 72 percent of a muscle cell; without sufficient water you will limit muscle deposition. If you are trying to hold a pig and use Paylean, these work in contradiction of each other and thus should not be practiced together. Most importantly, remember that once you begin feeding, do not remove your pig from Paylean more than 1-2 days prior to the show, as this can cause a pig to lose the total weight benefit gained while feeding. 

HOW DO I FEED PAYLEAN?

There are two methods of feeding Paylean to your swine project.  First, some show feed companies sell a complete feed with 9 g/ton concentration already included.  Thus, it can be fed as a complete ration or if a lower level is desired, that diet can be blended with a non-Paylean containing diet in a 50:50 mixture to achieve the 4.5 g/ton feeding level. Second, some show feed companies sell a Paylean containing supplement that you top-dress as part of the pig’s daily ration. Follow the feeding directions listed on the label to achieve the desired Paylean level in the daily diet. 

MOST IMPORTANTLY, USE COMMON SENSE AND SIDE WITH SAFETY

Paylean is not a steroid; however, it is regulated by U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and thus when using Paylean, one should pay close attention to dosage recommendations and feeding instructions. A few important rules and regulations to keep in mind when feeding:

• The allowed inclusion rate of Paylean is to be between 4.5 and 9 grams of active ingredient per ton of complete feed with a minimum crude protein level of 16 percent. 

• Paylean is not labeled for use in breeding swine and should not be fed to nursery pigs.

• Due to the rapid metabolism of Paylean, there is no withdrawal time required.

It is always better to stay along the side of caution, so if you struggle to understand how to utilize Paylean, it is best to either not feed it at all or seek out advice from a breeder, feeder or trained professional. When used according to label directions, Paylean can be a useful tool to maximize the final days of the feeding period and help your show project reach their desired composition. It can no doubt have a place in your feeding program when recommended feeding instructions and all potential risks are completely understood.