Role of Betaine as a Methyl Group Donor

Dear George Entz,
Thank you for your message!
I suppose that you mean as absolut %. First I want to highlight that it is possible to lower the crude protein only when we are adding the building blocks of the crude proteins, meaning the amino acids; the synthetic amino acids need to be supplied and the dM+C level and d.M+C/ d.Lysin ratio need to be kept at the same level. In our trial, we lowered the CP in the grower phase by 1,3% (as absolut % from 21,5% to 20,2% ) and we supplemented with Lysine, Methionine, Threonine, Tryptophane and Valine, having the dM+C level at 8,05 g/ kg and the d.M+C/ d.Lysin ratio was also maintained at 0,7. We supplemented with betaine with 600 mg BET/kg of complete feed in the grower phase, having quite good climatic conditions, no heat stress, or could stress in the trial period. Depending on your feed formulation, on the protein sources and their digestibility respectively the climatic challenges, I recommend 1000 mg - 1500 mg of Betaine/ kg of complete feed considering the above mentioned, especially regarding the dM+C level and its ratio to d.Lysin.

All best and kind regards,

Ana Gavrau.

Dear George Entz,

thanks for your message! The reduction of CP helps definitively to improve gut health and to reduce environmental pollution of ammonia. The reduction of CP shows that non-essential AA like glycine, serine, proline, and glutamine can become semi-essential in poultry diets. Betaine can function also as a source of glycine/ serine.
For e.g. in the EU in the organic sector, where the synthetic AA are not allowed, Betaine is successfully used at higher dosage 2 kg/ complete feed. Of course, that regarding the CP -they have to formulate with high CP levels in order to cover the requirements on the essential AA, but also on non-essential, because the plant based protein sources are lower in non-essential AA. Basically, in both cases the addition of natural betaine is beneficial, because of its multifunctionality.
As there are many factors which requires consideration, I would need more information about the diet (broiler?) in order to be able to advise you more accurately.
Thanks in advance for understanding.

All best and kind regards,
Ana

Dear Ana
Thank you for sharing your valuable experience. I guess your trial has been done on corn soy based diets.1.3 percent crude protein is very remarkable! But I am not sure we gain good results with bad soybean meal. Also, we can decrease choline as well
Regards,
Nima.

Dear Nima Eila,

I really apologize for my delayed reply. Yes, the diet was mainly corn-soy based (35%, corn and 28,7% of SBM 48% CP); but rapeseed meal, sunflower meal (4% each) and some peas and wheat were included as well. You are right the quality of soy is one of deciding factor, and unfortunately there are high differences first between the varieties and further differences depending on the heat treatment such as drying and toasting; Lysin will be most impacted during the heat treatment. It should be payed attention not only on the CP but also on g Lysine / percent of CP.
Thanks for your contribution!

All best and kind regards,
Ana Gavrau

Mike Stahl In case of organic production in the US, GMO is not allowed while synthetic "vitamins" are allowed in organic feeds. This means that synthetic betaine is acceptable solution while North American natural betaine, which is produced by GMS sugar beet is not.

Mike Stahl

Mike,

Synthetic betaine and natural betaine are structurally identical. Once dissolved in water, even synthetic betaine HCl is indistinguishable from regular betaine under the same pH because they are actually the "acid" and "base" forms of the same molecule. The precise ratio of the acid/base is determined by the pH of the solution. Since the pKa of betaine is 1.8, meaning that at pH 1.8, 50% of the betaine would be in the acid form and 50% of the betaine would be in the base form, in the acid environment of the stomach, even if natural betaine has been fed, a significant portion of the betaine consumed would become protonated and turn into the "acid" form of betaine or betaine HCl. Once betaine enters the small intestine and the pH rises above 3, >95% of the betaine (even if it started out as betaine HCl), would become the base, or betaine "anhydrous" form. There is no physical chemical difference between synthetic and natural. If any difference in effects were observed, it was most likely the result of contaminating substances that may be present in either the synthetic or natural betaine product and not due the betaine molecules themselves. Therefore, it is important to consider the quality of the betaine products you choose. For synthetic products, it would be important to consider residual trimethylamine levels and any potential contaminants that may have been introduced into the manufacturing process. For natural betaine, significant % of the sugarbeet grown in the world is GMO so it would be important to ensure that your customers are willing to to accept the use of GMO derived products. If cost is a consideration, synthetic betaine products are usually significantly cheaper than natural betaine.

James S Tuan Thanks, James, for the clear explanation.
Since you talked about ph of 1.8, would it have any significant effect of acidifying the feed by adding 1 kg per ton? Would it be equal to adding 1 kg citric acid to feed?

Dear Ana, 100% agree. It is possible to replace by betain all added choline chloride, if it is financial sense. But I see no reason to drop AA, especially methionine, because potential risk can be more than possible advantage. From other hand, financial sense is to use betain osmolyte properties: ME reduction, less fat content in broiler meat, hepatoprotector properties, anti-stressor functions. Especially important by animals of long-life life - laying hens, parents, sows, boars. Several years ago we conducted experiments on boars at the Nat.Pig Breeding Institute, and it turned out that betaine in the diet of boars increases the sperm count by 16.1%, while the sperm count increased by 6.3%! Also, important story is increasing to ability of animals and poultry against mycotoxins. It is necessary to perform a lot of scientific work!
In fact, betaine is a substance about the beneficial properties of which we still do not know enough, and we also do not know enough how to evaluate the benefits of betaine in monetary terms. Betaine is a multifunctional feed additive, and calculations must take into account all aspects of its multifaceted action.

Dear Park W. Waldroup,
thank you for your comment! I want to add, that the best practical demonstration regarding the methyl group donor function of betaine, respectively methionine replacement, is the European organic farming where the synthetic amino acids are not an option because are not allowed by regulation (are not GMO-free). As nutritionist, I do not agree because the organic livestock needs to be fed species-specific as well, but these are the facts and rules. In the poultry diets, the methionine demand is covered by using high digestible feed materials with high CP levels, such as potato protein which is a very good source of methionine (as native) and by betaine (at least by our customers). As I already mentioned, there are good conditions and a different stocking density, respectively free-range.

I agree with you and Mr. Alfredo Irazusta, betaine is much more than a methionine and/ or choline sparring tool. As globally, the livestock production is faced with AMR and gut health related problems, in heat stress or thermo-neutral conditions, the key focus for betaine application should be on the intestinal integrity, and feeding efficiency, with lowest possible environmental impact.

All best and kind regards,
Ana Gavrau

Park W. Waldroup,
Dear Dr. Waldroup, great to read your comments, totally agree with you!!, specially under stress conditions, whenever cysteine requirements could increase, either to form glutation or any need for other protein or enzyme where cysteine is important, I will not play with Met + Cys requirements giving values to betain or even, be cautious with enzyme matrices!!, have a great day

Dear Desra Eri,

thanks for your contribution! May I ask you if you are using 1 kg of betaine/ t of feed together with supplemented choline, by choline chloride or without?

Thanks in advance!

All best and kind regards,
Ana Gavrau

Desra Eri Dr.Eri, thanks for your comments. I know in Saudi Arabia use 2 kg/t feed of betaine for broilers, to prevent overheating. Also, it is important betaine less fat and more meat effect in broiler fattening.

Dr. Fiodor S. Marchenkov can you give us the recipe starter grow finisher you use with betaine?

Dear Zahed Abbasi,

thank you for your contribution! The lipotropic action of choline, betaine, inositol and of methionine are known, even if their mode of action is not 100% elucidated. Basically, all methyl group donors and the B Vitamins are involved in the production of the own lipotropic factors in the body. Many studies are showing significantly elevated carnitine levels when betaine is supplemented, suggesting that betaine is involved in the regulation of lipid metabolism through carnitine. Relevant studies in human clearly concluded that Betaine attenuates hepatic lipid accumulation. Talking about Choline and Betaine in laying hens, both are methyl group donors having lipotropic effect, but only Betaine can act also an osmolyte, and the main quality parameters considered for eggs are intact and clean shells. Under heat stress conditions, dietary supplementation with betaine decreases definitively the rates of dirty eggs. The study of Shin et al. (2018) shows decreased rates of broken and shell-less eggs even.

All best and kind regards,
Ana

Dear James S Tuan,

I fully agree and many thanks for your valuable contribution!
All best and kind regards,
Ana Gavr?u