Betaine does not improve performance of laying hens when the diet contains adequate choline.
An experiment was conducted with Hy-Line W36 hens to determine possible benefits from adding betaine to the diet of commercial laying hens. There was no benefit from the substitution of betaine for choline as measured by egg production, egg weight, egg content, or weight gain.
Harms
R H
RH
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Florida, Gainesville 32611, USA. harms@animal.ufl.edu
Russell
G B
GB
D000821:Animal Feed; D000824:Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena; D000818:Animals; D001622:Betaine / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D002645:Chickens / Q000254:growth & development / Q000502:physiology*; D002794:Choline / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D004531:Eggs / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D008082:Lipotropic Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000378:metabolism; D010058:Oviposition / Q000187:drug effects; D015430:Weight Gain / Q000187:drug effects
D008082:Lipotropic Agents; D001622:Betaine; D002794:Choline