The objective of this research was to evaluate the chemical composition of grain of 20 winter wheat, rye and triticale varieties grown in Lithuania. The grain of the tested varieties was analysed for crude protein, crude fat, crude ash, crude fibre, and amino acids. The Pearson's correlation coefficient between the components of grain chemical composition (except amino acids) was calculated. The highest concentration of crude protein was determined for the variety 'SW Talentro' (triticale) and the lowest for the rye variety 'Palazzo' (P < 0.05). Among the wheat varieties tested, the 'Mariboss' contained the highest concentration of crude fat (1.56% dry matter) and crude fibre (2.19% dry matter) (P < 0.05). Among the rye varieties tested, the highest and dominant mean content of neutral detergent fibre was determined for the variety 'Matador' (20.59% dry matter) (P < 0.05). The grain of wheat varieties had a high content of acid detergent fibre ('Rigi') and acid detergent lignin ('Mariboss') (P < 0.05). Furthermore, a very strong correlation was determined between individual fibre fractions of grain, that is between hemicellulose and neutral detergent fibre content (r = 0.99) and between acid detergent fibre and cellulose (r = 0.93). A negative correlation was determined between the crude protein and nitrogen-free extract (r = −0.83). The study revealed that the wheat variety 'Zentos', the rye variety 'Dankowskie Amber' and the tirticale variety 'SW Talentro' accumulated a higher amount of amino acids in comparison with the other cereal varieties tested. The results of the study showed that the chemical composition (crude protein, essential amino acids, nitrogenfree extract, neutral detergent fibre) of grain of the triticale varieties was more similar to that of wheat varieties compared with rye varieties.

This study was aimed to investigate the effect of feed supplemented with betaine on broiler chickens' growth and slaughter performance, breast muscle histomorphometric and physicochemical properties, oxidative status and amino acid content. A total of 1000 1-day-old Ross 308 broiler chickens were divided into four treatments. Control group chickens were fed with standard compound diet (SCD), the chickens from experimental groups B1, B2 and B3 receiving SCD supplemented with 1 g/kg (B1), 2 g/kg (B2) and 3 g/kg (B3) betaine anhydrous, respectively. Each treatment had five replicate pens. Feeding test results showed that betaine reduced broilers' mortality but increased feed conversion ratio (p < .05). Forty broiler chickens (5 weeks old) were slaughtered and slaughter performance showed that 2 g/kg betaine inclusion improved breast muscle percentage and yield (p < .05). Betaine dosage of 1 g/kg into feed increased breast muscle fibre areas (p < .05). Betaine affected some physicochemical properties: higher a à and the highest drip loss in B2; the highest cooking losses in B1, B2; the highest shear force and fat content in SCD; the highest amounts of ashes in B1, B2 (p < .05). Lower malondialdehyde levels were observed in all betaine-treated groups (p < .05), except B1 fresh meat samples. The highest total amino acid content and a greater amount of essential amino acids were obtained in SCD breast muscles (p < .05), except equally highest amounts of methionine were found in both SCD and B3 samples (p < .05). However, according to our study results, betaine, as a methyl group donor, in broiler chicken diets cannot replace methionine as an essential amino acid. HIGHLIGHTS Betaine is known as functional nutrient in poultry nutrition, which can fulfil the function of a methyl donor. Betaine in animal feed is saving feed costs by replacing choline chloride and methionine.

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Ensilage provides an effective means of conserving green forage to supply as feed to ruminants. The fermentation process presented in the ensilage process depend on lactic acid bacteria (LAB). Silage quality is variable and the only way to effectively control the fermentation process, to improve the ensiling process and the quality of the resulting silage is to use an additive, mostly biological inoculants with LAB. The aim of this study was to evaluate the fermentation and microbial dynamics of perennial grasses silage with biological inoculant. Alfalfa and Poaceae mixed grasses were ensiled. Into grass silage was added biological additive, consisted of mixture of homofermentative and heterofermentative LAB and enzymes. Inoculant included strains Lactobacillus plantarum, Pediococcus acidilactici, Pediococcus pentosaceus, Propionibacterium acidipropionici, α-amylase, β-glucanase, cellulase and hemicellulase. The fermentative quality, chemical composition parameters and microbiological counts of silages at 7, 14, 21 and 60 days after ensilage were evaluated. Fermentation dynamics were examined using chemical analysis. The study showed higher values of dry matter, crude fat and NDF after supplementation of biological additive in all analyzed samples. Conversely, there was a reduction of the pH and water soluble carbohydrates concentration. Ensiling caused an increase of acetic acid concentrations as well (p0.001). There were found significant differences (p0.05) in contents of NEL between 21 and 60 days of ensiling after treatment and between the control group of fresh grass and 7 and 21 days after treatment as well. At the 7 day of fermentation process there was a significant increase in Lactobacillus spp. abundance (p0.001) and on 60 day there was a decrease in Clostridium spp. abundance (p0.001).