Effect of betaine supplement on broiler performance during an experimental coccidial infection

Betaine: A Potential Nutritional Metabolite in the Poultry Industry

Poultry industry has been recognized as a fast-developing sector aiming to produce low-cost and high-nutrient foods for human consumption. This review article aimed to focus on the significant roles of dietary betaine supplementation in the poultry industry. In this respect, different effects of betaine on performance and carcass traits, as well as its osmoregulatory, anticoccidial, immune-modulatory, and heat-stress alleviation activities, were discussed. Different concentrations of betaine supplementation can improve the feed conversion ratio, final body weight, breast muscle yield, egg production ratio, and reduce body fat contents in broiler chicken, turkey, duck, geese, and quail diets. Betaine supplemented with methyl groups can eliminate the need to have some methyl-group donors, including choline and methionine, therefore having positive effects on feed conversion ratio in poultry diets. The osmolytic character of betaine can alleviate heat stress and have a positive impact on tonic immobility, which consequently reduces stress in poultry. By inhibiting distinct developmental stages of Eimeria species, betaine reduces the damaging effects of coccidiosis on broiler chickens and improves intestinal structure and function. The immunological, cardiovascular, neurological, renal, and hepatic metabolic systems benefit from betaine's osmo-protective properties. Therefore, betaine has the potential to be considered as an alternative to feed additives and enhances the health status and productive performance of poultry.

Effects of 6-Week Betaine Supplementation on Muscular Performance in Male Collegiate Athletes

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of 6-week betaine supplementation during a preparatory period of collegiate athletes on muscular power and strength. Sixteen male collegiate athletes received 5 g/day of betaine (betaine group, n = 9) or carboxymethyl cellulose (placebo group, n = 7) for 6 weeks. All participants engaged in their regular training during the experimental period. The overhead medicine-ball throw (OMBT), countermovement jump, and maximal strength (one repetition maximum, 1-RM) on the bench press, overhead press, half squat, and sumo dead lift by the participants were assessed before and after betaine supplementation. Blood lipids were also analyzed before and after betaine supplementation. After supplementation, there were no significant differences between betaine and placebo groups on any variables. Compared to presupplementation, the performance of OMBT and 1-RM of overhead press and half squat in the betaine group had significantly improved (p < 0.05). By contrast, no significant differences were observed in the placebo group before and after supplementation. Blood analysis revealed no negative effect on blood lipid profiles. Betaine seems to be a useful nutritional strategy to improve and maintain performance during 6-week preparatory periods in collegiate athletes.

Quantifying the effect of coccidiosis on broiler performance and infection outcomes in the presence and absence of control methods

A systematic review and meta-analysis was conducted to investigate the role of Eimeria species, dose and inoculation time, on performance and infection outcomes of different broiler strains infected for different study durations. The meta-analysis addressed E. acervulina, E. maxima, E. tenella, and mixed species infections, and involved data from 72 peer-reviewed articles, corresponding to 521 treatments performed on 20,756 broilers. A secondary objective was to investigate the effects of synthetic anticoccidials, ionophores, and vaccination against Eimeria on the above outcomes. Performance during infection was scaled (%) to that of the uninfected birds. Infection reduced scaled ADFI and ADG (P < 0.001) and increased feed conversion ratio (FCR; P < 0.05); there was a significant interaction between dose and species on scaled ADFI and ADG, suggesting that different species affected these variables to different extents (P < 0.001). There was a tendency for an interaction between dose and broiler strain on scaled ADFI (P = 0.079), and a significant interaction between these variables on scaled ADG (P < 0.01). A tendency for an interaction between oocyst dose and Eimeria species (P = 0.067) on maximum number of oocysts excreted was observed. Lesion scores were significantly affected by dose, species, and their interaction (P < 0.05), the latter caused by an increase in the lesion scores during E. maxima and E. tenella infections. Control methods significantly affected scaled ADG and FCR (P < 0.05) and there was an interaction between dose and control methods on ADFI (P < 0.001). Synthetic anticoccidial use improved scaled ADG (P < 0.01), whereas ionophores improved FCR compared with untreated birds (P < 0.01). An interaction between dose and control method on scaled ADFI was caused by the higher ADFI of vaccinated compared to untreated birds, as dose increased. There was a significant effect of control methods on lesion scores (P < 0.01). All findings advance our understanding of the factors that influence the impact of coccidiosis and its controls in broilers.

Effects of Two-Week Betaine Supplementation on Apoptosis, Oxidative Stress, and Aerobic Capacity after Exhaustive Endurance Exercise

This study evaluated the effects of 2 weeks of betaine supplementation on apoptosis, oxidative stress, and aerobic capacity after exhaustive endurance exercise (EEE). A double-blind, crossover, and counterbalanced design was adopted, with 10 healthy male participants asked to consume betaine (1.25 g of betaine mixed with 300 mL of sports beverage, twice per day for 2 weeks) or placebo (300 mL of sports beverage). All participants performed a graded exercise test on a treadmill to determine the maximal oxygen consumption (VO2max) before supplementation and then performed the EEE test at an intensity of 80% VO2max after 2 weeks of supplementation. The time to exhaustion, peak oxygen consumption, maximal heart rate, and average heart rate were recorded during the EEE test. Venous blood samples were drawn before, immediately after, and 3 h after the EEE test to assess apoptosis and the mitochondrial transmembrane potential (MTP) decline of lymphocytes as well as the concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substance and protein carbonyl. The results indicated that lymphocyte apoptosis was significantly higher immediately after and 3 h after EEE than before exercise in participants in the placebo trial. However, lymphocyte apoptosis exhibited no significant differences among the three time points in participants in the betaine trial. Moreover, apoptosis in the betaine trial was significantly lower immediately after and 3 h after exercise compared with the placebo trial. No differences were noted for other variables. Thus, 2 weeks of betaine supplementation can effectively attenuate lymphocyte apoptosis, which is elevated by EEE. However, betaine supplementation exhibited no effects on MTP decline, oxidative stress, or aerobic capacity.

Regulation of macrophage and dendritic cell function by pathogens and through immunomodulation in the avian mucosa

Macrophages (MPh) and dendritic cells (DC) are members of the mononuclear phagocyte system. In chickens, markers to distinguish MPh from DC are lacking, but whether MPh and DC can be distinguished in humans and mice is under debate, despite the availability of numerous markers. Mucosal MPh and DC are strategically located to ingest foreign antigens, suggesting they can rapidly respond to invading pathogens. This review addresses our current understanding of DC and MPh function, the receptors expressed by MPh and DC involved in pathogen recognition, and the responses of DC and MPh against respiratory and intestinal pathogens in the chicken. Furthermore, potential opportunities are described to modulate MPh and DC responses to enhance disease resistance, highlighting modulation through nutraceuticals and vaccination.

Effects of a xylanase and protease, individually or in combination, and an ionophore coccidiostat on performance, nutrient utilization, and intestinal morphology in broiler chickens fed a wheat-soybean meal-based diet

The effects of 2 single exogenous and monocomponent feed enzymes, and their combination, and an ionophore coccidiostat on production performance, feed AME(n), nutrient utilization, and intestinal morphology were studied in broiler chickens. One-day-old unvaccinated and unsexed Ross 308 birds (n = 320) were kept in groups of 8 on wood shavings in pens raised from the floor and fed one of 5 experimental diets, replicated 8 times, for 36 d. Treatments were 1) a wheat-soybean meal-based feed with no added coccidiostats or exogenous enzymes (CON), 2) CON + ionophore coccidiostat (Narasin), 3) CON + xylanase (Ronozyme WX CT; XYL), 4) CON + serine protease (Ronozyme ProAct CT; PRO), or 5) CON + xylanase + serine protease (XYL+PRO). Enzymes were added on top in the feed formulation. Diets contained 0.5% TiO₂ to facilitate estimations of total tract apparent nutrient utilization. Treatments had no effect on BW gain or feed intake, but feed conversion, apparent digestibility of starch and fat, and feed AME(n) were improved with all enzyme treatments. The relative length of the ileum was reduced with XYL+PRO. For all parameters measured, the effects of XYL+PRO were similar to when XYL and PRO were fed individually. Narasin had no effect on production performance or nutrient utilization but reduced the relative lengths of jejunum and ileum. Relative lengths and weights of duodenum and cecum were unaffected by treatments. In conclusion, the improved feed conversion with both a xylanase and a protease was reflected in increased nutrient utilization, but their combination was not superior to when supplied separately. Narasin did not affect performance or nutrient utilization but reduced the relative lengths of the jejunum and ileum.

Dietary plant bioactives for poultry health and productivity

1. Plants and their biologically active chemical constituents, sometimes called secondary metabolites or bioactives, present numerous opportunities for the improvement of livestock production by inclusion in the diet. 2. Many such plant derived materials have well established therapeutic values in man; however, their potential as feed additives in animal production, particularly of poultry, remains largely unexploited. 3. There is increasing evidence indicating that they can be efficient in controlling diseases, and plant bioactives may also influence production parameters such as feed efficiency and product quality. 4. It has been reported that they may even replicate some of the effects of antibiotic growth promoters, which were banned from use in Europe from 2006. 5. This review assesses the status of plant bioactives in poultry production and their mode of action on avian physiology, particularly in the digestive tract.

Dietary betaine affect duodenal histology of broilers challenged with a mixed coccidial infection

The purpose of this research was to investigate effect of dietary betaine on intestinal morphology after an experimental coccidiosis. Hence a total of 189 male and female broiler chicks were randomly assigned to 9 floor cages. Chicks were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 0.6 or 1.2 g kg(-1) betaine. All birds were inoculated orally with Eimeria oocysts on day 28. Duodenal morphology parameters and lesions were scored by microscopic observation on intestine samples which were taken at day 42 of age. Adding 1.2 g kg(-1) betaine to diet diminished intestinal lesions (p < 0.05). Dietary supplementation with 0.6 or 1.2 g kg(-1) betaine significantly (p < 0.01) increased intraepithelial lymphocytes as well. Level of additive betaine had no effect on the ratio of villus height/crypt depth or villus surface area. Lamina propria of duodenum became thicker in the intestine of chickens which received more supplemental betaine via their diet. In conclusion, since the number of intraepithelial lymphocytes and thickness of lamina propria represent the condition of gut immune response, it seems that dietary betaine may immunomodulate the gastrointestinal tract of broilers. In addition, betaine effect on villus morphology measured later in life differed from what had been measured already earlier in life of the chicks.

Clostridium perfringens in poultry: an emerging threat for animal and public health

The incidence of Clostridium perfringens-associated necrotic enteritis in poultry has increased in countries that stopped using antibiotic growth promoters. Necrotic enteritis and the subclinical form of C. perfringens infection in poultry are caused by C. perfringens type A, producing the alpha toxin, and to a lesser extent type C, producing both alpha toxin and beta toxin. Some strains of C. perfringens type A produce an enterotoxin at the moment of sporulation and are responsible for foodborne disease in humans. The mechanisms of colonization of the avian small intestinal tract and the factors involved in toxin production are largely unknown. It is generally accepted, however, that predisposing factors are required for these bacteria to colonize and cause disease in poultry. The best known predisposing factor is mucosal damage, caused by coccidiosis. Diets with high levels of indigestible, water-soluble non-starch polysaccharides, known to increase the viscosity of the intestinal contents, also predispose to necrotic enteritis. Standardized models are being developed for the reproduction of colonization of poultry by C. perfringens and the C. perfringens-associated necrotic enteritis. One such model is a combined infection with Eimeria species and C. perfringens. Few tools and strategies are available for prevention and control of C. perfringens in poultry. Vaccination against the pathogen and the use of probiotic and prebiotic products has been suggested, but are not available for practical use in the field at the present time. The most cost-effective control will probably be achieved by balancing the composition of the feed.

A novel method to analyze betaine in chicken liver: effect of dietary betaine and choline supplementation on the hepatic betaine concentration in broiler chicks

Betaine was measured from liver tissue by a high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method developed for this study. The method involves homogenization of liver in acetate buffer at pH 6 and precipitation of protein with trichloroacetic acid, which was removed by diethyl ether extraction. Betaine was separated using a cation exchange column in Ca(2+) form and detected with a refractive index detector. This method also allows the determination of S-adenosylmethionine (S-AM) from the same liver extract but with different HPLC conditions. Broiler chicks were fed with experimental diets supplemented with four different doses of betaine or choline ranging from 0 to 5 mol equiv. After a 3 week feeding period, the livers were analyzed for betaine and S-AM. Dietary betaine was twice as efficient in increasing the hepatic betaine concentration as dietary choline. The hepatic S-AM concentrations were similar in all dietary treatments.

Intestinal uptake of betaine in vitro and the distribution of methyl groups from betaine, choline, and methionine in the body of broiler chicks

The efficiency of betaine absorption into small intestinal slices of broiler chicks was studied in vitro with 14C-labeled betaine. The relative proportion of Na+-coupled betaine uptake, as well as the total uptake capacity was larger in the duodenum than in the jejunum. Dietary betaine increased the Na+-coupled uptake in the duodenum. In in vivo-experiments, methyl-14C-labeled betaine, methionine, or choline was fed to broiler chicks. Betaine appeared in the blood more rapidly, and reached a higher total concentration than choline or methionine. The data suggest that choline and methionine were associated with plasma lipoproteins whereas betaine remained free in the plasma. The label distribution in liver, kidney, and intestinal tissues was studied 24 h after label ingestion. Most of the label from betaine was found in the aquaeous phase in the muscle, while in the liver and jejunum the label from betaine was distributed more evenly between the aquaeous, lipid, and protein phases. Label from choline accumulated in the lipid fraction, particularly so in the liver, whereas label from methionine showed a more variable distribution pattern. The distribution results are interpreted in terms of specific roles of betaine, choline, and methionine in methyl group metabolism.