Effect of Betaine Diet on Growth Performance, Carcass Quality and Fat Deposition in Finishing Ningxiang Pigs

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of diet with betaine supplementation on the growth performance, carcass quality and fat deposition in finishing Ningxiang pigs. A total of 24 Ningxiang pigs (43.6 ± 5.34 kg of average body weight) was randomly divided into two groups, with 6 replicates per treatment and 2 pigs per replicate. The treatments included a control group (basal diet) and a test group (basal diet + 0.2% betaine). The whole trial lasted 81 days. At the end of the experiment, one pig (close to the average body weight of all experimental pigs) per replicate was slaughtered to determine the carcass traits, meat quality and the mRNA expression levels of genes relate to fat deposition (one pig per replicate was randomly selected and fasted for 12 h, n = 6). Results indicated that growth performance was not changed with betaine supplementation. However, dietary with betaine supplementation decreased back fat thickness and fat percentage, and increased the lean meat percentage as well (p < 0.05). In addition, diet with betaine supplementation reduced drip loss, water loss, cooking loss, shear force and b×24 h value of meat (p < 0.05). There was no difference in total moisture, ether extract and crude protein of longissimus thoracis between the control and test group. Dietary with betaine supplementation decreased ether extract and total cholesterol (p < 0.05) in liver. Dietary with betaine supplementation upregulated the mRNA expression levels of adipose triglyceride lipase (ATGL) and sirtuin 1 (Sirt1), while downregulated the mRNA expression levels of fatty acid synthase (FAS) and acetyl CoA carboxylase (ACC) in subcutaneous fat of back (p < 0.05). Besides, dietary with betaine supplementation upregulated the fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4) mRNA expression of longissimus thoracis in finishing Ningxiang pigs (p < 0.05). These results showed that diet supplemented with betaine could improve the slaughtering performance and meat quality, and regulate the genes expression to affect the fat deposition in finishing Ningxiang pigs.

Effect of betaine supplementation on the growth pattern of quails reared in a tropical environment

Betaine plays a vital role in forming amino acids to compose proteins, converted into structural tissue in poultry. This study aimed to predict the growth pattern of quails fed diet supplemented with betaine using a logistic regression model. In total, 84 10-day-old quails were divided into two treatments (T0: control, T1: betaine supplementation 0.12%). The diets were given in 2 phases (starter: 22% crude protein; layer: 20% crude protein), where weekly bodyweight data was recorded in each phase. The t-test was conducted to see the effect between treatments, while logistic regression was used to predict the pattern of bodyweight growth. The result showed no effect of betaine in bodyweight parameters (p>0.05) between T0 and T1 both for the starter and layer phases which might be associated with the nutrient sufficiency in the diet, particularly dietary protein. The logistic model’s bodyweight prediction has high accuracy with the fitness value for T0=99% and T1=98%. It can be concluded that betaine supplementation in high nutritional diets could not modify the growth pattern of quails.

Egg production parameters of quails receiving dietary betaine supplementation with different floor space in a tropical environment

This study investigated the effect of dietary betaine supplementation and floor space on quail egg production parameters. With six replicates, four hundred fifty-six quails (21-day-old) were randomly assigned to a 2×2 factorial arrangement. The first factor was floor space of 225 cm2 (F1) and 164 cm2 (F2) by allocating 16 and 22 birds per cage (size: 3600 cm2). The second factor was dietary betaine supplementation at 0% (CON) and 0.15% (BET). Egg production was collected in 2 periods (2×28 days) starting from 43 days old. The age of the first production, 10%, 50%, and peak production, was also recorded. There is an interaction between dietary betaine supplementation and floor space on the age of productive parameters, where quails receiving betaine supplementation reached faster 50% production and peak production (p<0.05). Furthermore, the F1 group had a higher average egg production than F2 (p<0.05). BET group had a higher average egg production than CON (p<0.05). Thus, floor space 225 cm2 can be applied in the tropics provided the quails received dietary betaine supplementation.

Betaine supplementation to adequate nutrient diet does not affect the growth performance of quails divergently selected based on bodyweight

This study aimed to determine the effect of body weight clustering and betaine supplementation to adequate nutrient diet on the growth performance of quails. Nine hundred seven-day-old quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were allotted to a 3×2 factorial completely randomized design. Three bodyweight clusters included Random (21.1±1.2 g), Low (17.9±0.4 g), and High (22.4±0.4 g). Each bodyweight cluster was fed a diet without (0%) and with betaine supplementation (0.14%), resulting in six combination treatments. Each treatment consisted of five replicates of 30 quails. The basal diet was formulated with sufficient protein (22%) and metabolizable energy (2800 kcal/kg). The observed variables included feed intake, body weight, feed conversion, and protein and energy efficiency ratio. The results revealed that there was no interaction between body weight and betaine supplementation on all variables. The High body weight group consumed more feed and produced a higher body weight on 42 days of age than other treatments (p<0.05). However, betaine supplementation did not affect all growth trait variables. In conclusion, betaine supplementation to nutrient adequate diet is not effective in improving growth performance of quails divergently selected based on body weight.

The effect of betaine supplementation on performance of laying hens in the tropical climate during the starting period

The study investigated the effects of dietary betaine on the growth performance of laying hens in a tropical climate during the starting period. In total, 192 laying hens strain Lohmann aged three weeks were assigned to four dietary treatments, each consisting of six replicates of eight birds. The dietary treatments included a basal diet (T0) and a basal diet supplemented with betaine at 6 mg/kg (T1), 12 mg/kg (T2), 18 mg/kg (T3). The treatments lasted for eight weeks. Temperature and relative humidity were measured with Hobo-U12, while the wet-bulb temperature was measured using Lutron HT-3027SD. The effect of betaine was not consistent where T3 decreased feed intake (FI) in week 2 but increased FI in weeks 4 and 5. Furthermore, T2 showed higher FI in weeks 6 and 7 than T0 (p<0.05). Accordingly, T2 and T3 led to lower weight gain in week 2, but they compensated with higher weight gain in week 4 when ambient temperature above 30°C occurred for 42 hours in a week. Overall, weight gain and body weight in week 8 was not affected by the treatment. It is concluded that the effect of betaine was more apparent when the birds were exposed to high ambient temperature.

Fitness of logistics model for predicting quails egg production reared in a tropical environment with dietary betaine supplementation

Betaine is a methyl group donor and organic osmolyte, optimizing quail’s performance, particularly in a tropical environment. This study determined the fitness of the logistic model to predict the quail egg production with dietary betaine supplementation. Two hundred and four quails were divided into two dietary treatments, and six replicates with 17 quails each. The treatment diets were control (CTR) and 0.12% betaine supplementation (BET). Egg production data were collected for eleven weeks, and a T-test was performed. Next, the data is plotted to get the actual egg production curve. The fit of the logistic model is calculated according to the coefficient of determination (R2). Quail that received betaine supplementation produced more eggs than control (P<0.05). The actual egg production curve shows the effect of betaine supplementation seen after the fourth week. The logistic model predicts CTR to reach peak production faster than BET but to have lower peak production than BET (56.63% vs. 63.56%). Prediction of egg production both CTR and BET showed high accuracy with a relatively high R2 (0.88; CTR and 0.87; BET). Thus, the logistic model accurately predicted quails egg production reared in a tropical environment with betaine supplementation.