Carcass Traits and Blood Biochemistry of Broiler Birds Fed Betaine Hydrochloride Supplemented Diets

A study was conducted to assess the effect of different levels of betaine hydrochloride on the carcass characteristics and different blood biochemical parametersofbroiler chicken.Atotalof200 birds were allocated into five different treatment groups of which T1 was taken as control while T2, T3, T4, and T5 were fed basal diet supplemented with 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 mg betaine/kg feed, respectively. The percentage dressed, eviscerated and drawn carcass weight were significantly (P<0.05) higher in T5 group followed by T4 in contrast with T1, T2, and T3 groups. Birds of T5 group had the lowest (p<0.05) abdominal fat in comparison to control (T1). Both, T4 and T5 showed significantly higher breast and thigh percent weight, crude protein and moisture percentages and lowest ether extract, cholesterol and saturated fatty acid content in comparison to the other groups. Betaine supplementation resulted in increased haemoglobin and RBC count while decreased heterophils count in comparison to control group (p<0.05). Birds in T5 group had higher total blood protein in comparison to the control. The groups supplemented with 2000 and 1500 mg betaine per kg feed had significantly (P<0.05) lower serum cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL values while significantly (P<0.05) higher HDL values in comparison to other groups. It was concluded that adding betaine @2g/kg feed in broilers diet enhanced the carcass yield with an increased protein, lowered cholesterol and fatty acid content along with improved blood biochemical parameters.