Betaine Increases Percentage Hatched in Broiler Breeders

Natural betaine has two roles in nutrition. As an osmoregulator it can protect cell enzymes systems and membranes from ionic inactivation during stress. As a methyl donor via transmethylation, it is more effective than other potential methyl group donors such as methionine and choline (Eklund et al., 2005). Natural betaine has been shown to benefit parameters such as bodyweight gain, feed conversion efficiency, especially during times of adverse environment for the birds such as excessive heat and coccidial challenge (Eklund et al., 2005). More recently betaine has been shown to improve embryo survival and total born, in pigs (Van Wettere et al., 2009). The hypothesis of this study is betaine will have a similar effect in broiler breeders; to increase embryo survival and percentage of eggs hatched.

The study was conducted in commercial broiler breeder sheds, at Turi Foods Bannockburn Farm. Each shed contained approximately 7,000 Ross 308 hens, with 8 males per 100 hens. The sheds are 100% deep litter with manual next boxes. The experiment was run in two blocks, with a cross-over of treatments per shed so that no one treatment was offered to the same shed. The study began when hens were 25 weeks of age, and ended when the hens were 55 weeks old. The treatments were two levels of natural anhydrous Betaine (Betafin S1, Danisco), at 0 and 2000ppm. The diet formulations were to Ross 308 recommendations, and were adjusted depending on the age, intake, bodyweight and production parameters. Standard flock performance figures were obtained twice a week and were then analysed for the actual chicks hatched percentage, chick weights and the percentage of chicks culled in the hatchery. Statistics were conducted using PASW statistics 18. 

Table 1 - Performance of broilers breeders offered two levels of anhydrous betaine

The results supports the hypothesis that supplemental betaine improves the chick hatch percentage in broiler breeders (P=0.004). There was no effect of the treatment on chick weight or percentage of culls. The present results strongly suggest that betaine improves the number of hatched chicks in broiler breeders, which supports the past observations of betaine improving the number of total and born alive in pig breeders. The suggested mode of action is that betaine improves embryo survival through its osmoregulation and transmethylation properties. 

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS: This research was conducted within the Poultry CRC, established and supported under the Australian Government’s Cooperative Research Centres Program. 

van Wettere WHEJ, Herde P & Hughes PE (2012) Anim. Reprod. Sci. 132(1-2): 44-49.

Eklund M, Bauer E, Wamatu J & Mosenthin R (2005) Nutri. Res. Rev. 18: 31-48