Effect of Betaine on Growth Performance, Nutrients Digestibility, Blood Cells, Meat Quality and Organ Weights in Broiler Chicks

This study examined the effects of dietary betaine supplementation on growth performance, digestibility, blood profile, meat quality and organ weights. A total of 765 Ross 308 broiler chicks were randomly divided into five treatments with 9 replicate (17 birds/pen) per treatment for 28 days. Treatments were 1) 0 ppm betaine; 2) 250 ppm betaine; 3) 350 ppm betaine; 4) 650 ppm betaine; 5) 1000 ppm choline chloride. The results showed that broilers fed with different levels of betaine during 1–7, 8–21, 22–28 d and overall showed no significant differences in growth performance compared with choline treatments (P>0.05). The digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen in broilers fed a betaine supplement followed a linear pattern (P<0.05). There were no significant effects on white blood cells, red blood cells and lymphocytes of broilers fed with betaine compared with choline treatments (P>0.05). Breast muscle pH, breast muslce color, drip loss, water holding capacity and relative organ weights did not change among treatments (P>0.05). These results suggests that betaine does not improve growth performance, blood cells, meat quality and organ weights, but may affect the digestibility of dry matter and nitrogen in broiler chickens.