Role of betaine in layer production

Betaine is a compound that has been well established in literature as an osmolyte; enabling cellular efficiency to decrease energy needs so livestock can live up to its full potential in production. Choline requirements can be fulfilled in the diet from raw ingredients. Betaine can donate directly one of its methyl groups into methylation cycle, whereas choline requires a 2-step enzymatic transformation in the mitochondria within liver cells. Therefore, betaine will be more efficient as methyl donor compared to choline. Extra betaine molecules are able to infiltrate cells to maintain (intestinal) cell integrity, protein structure, and homeostasis. Maintaining intestinal cell integrity and gut health is the foundation of improving liveability, nutrient digestibility and production.

Commercial trial

To prove the beneficial effects of betaine compared to choline, a US commercial paired-house study was conducted over the course of a layer’s production period. At 21 weeks of age, Lohman brown layers in a cage-free system were either given a control diet that included 500 ppm of 60% choline chloride or a diet replacing this choline with 348 ppm of Excential Beta-Key (betaine hydrochloride 95%). At 348 ppm, Excential Beta-Key is replacing 100% equimolar equivalence of the 500 ppm 60% choline chloride, meaning both control and test diet provided the same molecular amount of methyl donors, as choline or betaine, respectively.

Production data has showed that by 59 weeks of age or, 38 weeks from the start of the trial the average eggs per hen housed improved by 3.4 eggs. In production standpoint, a total of 60,396 more eggs were produced as seen in Figure 1.

Figure 1 – Cumulative egg production from 21-59 weeks of age.

Without management change other than adding betaine, in the US market the addition of Excential Beta-Key at 348 ppm and replacing added choline chloride was calculated to result in a ROI of at least 6:1 in a 20,000-bird production.

Influence on litter moisture and mortality

Another important parameter in management of poultry is litter moisture. Improved digestibility and intestinal cell growth have been associated with added betaine. These factors are attributed to improved water retention of the animal and thus controlling excreta.

Increased litter moisture decreases litter quality and can lead to production issues including but not limited to elevated ammonia levels, increased problems with footpad quality and dirty eggs. Improving nutrient digestibility by supplementing betaine can also impact litter moisture. During the commercial trial, litter samples throughout both houses were collected at 35, 45 and 55 weeks. Although as seen in Table 1, litter moisture was well-managed, adding betaine hydrochloride significantly reduced moisture by over 3%. Using betaine hydrochloride instead of choline chloride, especially in houses that are in need to control moisture may be a useful tool for producers.

Mortality and liveability are also key attributes to a successful flock. As seen in Table 2, betaine reduced mortality of the flock by up to 1.98%.

Improving table egg quality

As a potent osmolyte, betaine enables animals to be better equipped to handle environmental stress which is a daily occurrence for layers in peak production. The osmotic properties of betaine were hypothesised to be stored into the egg, allowing the egg to reduce cell and protein degradation associated with egg quality. At 35 and 45 weeks, a total of 40 eggs were collected from each house and sent to a university to measure egg weights, Haugh units and albumin heights. At 55 weeks, half of the collected eggs were stored at room temperature for 7 days before albumin height and Haugh units were measured.

As seen in Table 3, egg weights were significantly increased by adding Beta-Key at 45 weeks. Betaine has been shown to increase egg size which may be attributed to increased protein digestibility and methionine absorption and by the better efficiency as methyl donor of betaine compared to choline. At 49 weeks, the diet of both houses was adapted (crude protein content was reduced) which attributed to the egg weights at 55 weeks, where betaine was similar in weight as the control group.

Albumin height and Haugh units were clearly affected after being stored for 7 days in room temperature. However, betaine significantly improved albumin height and Haugh units after storage. Betaine may be a key tool to decrease cellular degradation in the egg, keeping eggs fresher longer.

Betaine is a useful tool for producers

Excential Beta-Key can replace 100% of added choline chloride in layers. Because efficiency of betaine as a methyldonor is higher compared to choline, the surplus of betaine available to layers enhances cellular efficiency and helps to improve performance. By reducing mortality and litter moisture, betaine is a useful tool for producers to improve overall layer liveability. By increasing the efficiency of osmoregulation, the surplus of betaine may be reducing protein degradation in the egg, therefore betaine improves egg quality and prolongs freshness.

References are available on request