Betaine Replacement for DL-Methionine in the Performance and Carcass Characteristics of Broiler Chicks

An in vivo experiment was conducted to determine the effect of dietary betaine supplementation (Betafin ® ) as a replacement for methionine on broiler performance and carcass characteristics. In a completely randomized design (CRD) with five treatments of betaine levels (at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% in replacemen t for methionine) and five replicates of 10 birds/replicate, two hundred fifty-day-old Ross broiler chicks were randomly distributed in cages and fed the experimental diets from 0 to 49 days of age. Feed and water were provided ad libitum. Feed intake and body weight were recorded weekly. At 49 days of age, one bird from each replicate was killed for comparison of carcass characteristics. Betaine replacement for methionine had no effect on feed intake and feed to gain ratio but decreased body weight gain at 0 to 3 (P<0.0465) and 0 to 7 weeks of age (P<0.01). Betaine as a replacement for methionine decreased the breast weight (P<0.025) and tended to reduce the abdominal fat pad (48.9 vs 40.4 grams , 100% methionine vs 100% betaine replacement for methionine). The present findings do not support the hypothesis that betaine can effectively replace methionine.