Effects of betaine supplementation on productive performance, blood parameters and carcass characteristics of broiler

One hundred Cobb 500™ broiler chicks were used in a 28-day trial to study the effects of betaine supplementaton on performance parameters, carcass characteristics and blood parameters in commercial broiler. Birds were randomly distributed into five dietary treatment groups designated as T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ and betaine was supplemented at 0%, 0.25%, 0.35%, 0.45% and 0.60 % for T₀, T₁, T₂, T₃ and T₄ treatment groups respectively. All birds had free access to ad-libitum feeding. Results indicated that, feed intake increased (P<0.05) from 121.5 to 146.5 g/d at 4^th week and average weight gain increased (P<0.05) from 15.6 to 17.6 g/d at 1^st week, 27.4 to 33.6 g/d at 2^nd week, 52.6 to 61.7 g/d at 3^rd week and 67.5 to 83.0 g/d at 4^th week as the level of betaine supplementation increased from 0 to 0.45%. FCR improved (P<0.05) at 3^rd and 4^th weeks of age. Breast weight, abdominal fat weight and neck fat weight also changed (P<0.05). However, chemical composition of meat remained unchanged (P>0.05). Heterophil, Basophil, Serum albumin and Serum Glutamic Oxaloacetic Transaminase decreased (P<0.05) at 4^th week. Maximum net profit per broiler (Tk. 18.4) was obtained from birds fed diet supplemented with 0.45% betaine. It was concluded that, increasing levels of supplemental betaine substantially improved performance parameter, carcass characteristics and net profit without interfering blood and serum parameters in commercial broiler.