Ractopamine hydrochloride is a phenethanolamine β-adrenergic agonist (β-AA) that improves growth performance and affects carcass characteristics in livestock, through increased protein synthesis. Ractopamine hydrochloride is FDA approved animal feed additive used in some third countries like the USA, Canada, Japan, and Mexico for the growth promotion in fattening of pigs and cattle. In the USA, Ractopamine hydrochloride is authorized for use in pigs and cattle at a feed concentration of 5-20 mg kg^-1 for finishing pigs and 10-30 mg kg^-1 for cattle in confinement.

The analytical standard can be used to:

• Evaluate the comparative effects of ractopamine hydrochloride and zilpaterol hydrochloride on growth performance, carcass traits, and longissimus tenderness of finishing beef steers
• Determine the effects of ractopamine hydrochloride on growth performance, carcass characteristics, physiological response to handling, and mobility during shipment for slaughter
• Evaluate the effect of ractopamine hydrochloride on growth performance, carcass cutting yield, and processing characteristics of boneless hams and bellies from finishing pigs
• Study the effects of ractopamine hydrochloride and zilpaterol hydrochloride on growth, diet digestibility, intake, and carcass characteristics of feedlot lambs
• Evaluate the effects of ractopamine hydrochloride on growth performance, feed intake patterns, and acid-base balance in feedlot cattle

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