Improving profits with Porcine Somatotropin

摘要

Porcine somatotropin (pST) is one of the first products of biotechnology which clearly has a consumer benefit - leaner and healthier pork. It also has economic benefits to the producer with improved feed efficiencies, and the processor with reducedfat having to be trimmed from carcasses. Porcine somatotropin is produced naturally in the pituitary gland of pigs and plays an important role in controlling growth and metabolism. When pigs are young they have high blood levels of pST but as they approach market weight the level of pST in the blood declines Reduced levels of circulating pST leads to less efficient feed utilization and an increase in the amount of fat deposited by the animal. The administration of exogenous pST (Reporcin~(R), AlpharmaAnimal Health) to finisher pigs during the finishing period assists in reducing the fat content, increasing the meat yield of the carcass of the pig and improving efficiency of production. Reporcin supplementation commences around 28 days prior to slaughter to achieve optimal results. Administration of Reporcin is done with a unique gas-powered injector which allows for ease of operation.