title: Impact of betaine on pig finishing performance and carcass composition.
abstract: Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of betaine supplementation of finishing diets on growth performance and carcass characteristics of swine. Experiment 1 included 288 pigs in a 2 x 2 x 3 factorial arrangement of treatments consisting of barrows and gilts of two genetic populations fed diets with 1.25 g/kg supplemental betaine from either 83 or 104 kg to 116 kg and control pigs fed betaine-devoid diets. Pigs were housed three pigs per pen with eight replicate pens per treatment. Diets were corn-soybean meal-based with 300 ppm added choline. Genetic populations differed (P < 0.05) in fat depth (2.24 vs 2.93 cm) and longissimus muscle depth (53.8 vs 49.1 mm) at 116 kg. Betaine reduced feed intake (P < 0.05); however, real-time ultrasound measurements were not affected. In Exp. 2, 400 pigs were used in a 2 x 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of treatments to evaluate the effect of sex (barrow or gilts), betaine (0 or 1 g/kg of diet), and crude protein (CP) (0.70% lysine = 12.7% CP or 0.85% lysine = 15.0% CP) when fed from 60 to 110 kg live weight. Pigs had been assigned to either a high- or low-protein feeding regimen at an average initial weight of 11.3 kg and were maintained on their respective protein levels throughout the experiment. For a 56-d period from 61.7 kg to 113.6 kg, pigs were fed diets with 300 ppm added choline. Within each protein level, pigs were randomly assigned to diets containing 0 or 1 g/kg betaine. Pigs were group-housed (four to five pigs per pen). Pig weight and feed intake were recorded every 28 d. Real-time ultrasound measurements were recorded initially and at d 28 on 64 pigs, and on all pigs prior to slaughter. Growth rate was fastest and feed intake greatest for barrows (P < 0.05) and for pigs receiving 12.7% crude protein. A crude protein x betaine interaction (P < 0.05) was observed from d 28 to 56 with pigs fed the 15% CP diet growing fastest when supplemented with 1 g/kg betaine, and pigs receiving the 12.7% CP diet growing fastest when the diets contained 0 g/kg betaine. Gilts more efficiently (P < 0.05) converted feed into body weight gain, as did pigs receiving the 12.7% CP diet (P < 0.05). Longissimus muscle area and fat measurements were unaffected by betaine or dietary protein on d 28. However, by d 56 betaine reduced average fat depth in barrows (P < 0.05; 3.21 vs 3.40 cm), but not in gilts. Betaine may be more effective at altering body composition in barrows than in gilts.
authors.affiliation: Howard Feeds Inc., Mankato, MN 56002-8500, USA.
authors.forename: B V
authors.initials: BV
authors.lastname: Lawrence
authors.forename: A P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Schinckel
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Adeola
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Cera
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D000818:Animals; D001622:Betaine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001823:Body Composition / Q000187:drug effects*; D002794:Choline / Q000008:administration & dosage; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000378:metabolism; D002149:Energy Intake; D005260:Female; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008082:Lipotropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage; D008297:Male; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013552:Swine / Q000254:growth & development*; D014463:Ultrasonography
chemical_list: D004044:Dietary Proteins; D005765:Gastrointestinal Agents; D008082:Lipotropic Agents; D001622:Betaine; D002794:Choline