Paylean is a feed additive, a registered trademark of Pfizer Inc. and approved by the US FDA in October this year for use in pig production only. It can further increase the rate and efficiency of muscle tissue growth. It contains
ractopamine hydrochloride, a small molecule that improves muscle protein growth and feed efficiency. Ractopamine is a member of phenethanolamines. Paylean is not a hormone, steroid, antibiotic, nor is it a bioengineered product. It has been proven to add 4.5 to 18 g / tonne to the feed during the last 90 pounds of body weight between 150 and 240, and has been extensively and repeatedly evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration for its effectiveness and safety. Numerous trials have proven the effect of adding ractopamine at 18 g / t 90 lbs before commercial pigs are released on the market. In these trials, ractopamine increased fat-free lean meat by 34%. Ractopamine reduces feed intake while increasing growth rate. The thickness of the 10th rib was reduced by 13.7%, the amount of lean meat was increased by 11%, and the slaughter rate could be increased from 73.3% to 74.4%, resulting in an increase of 1.5%.