Effect of dietary betaine on nutrient utilization and partitioning in the young growing feed-restricted pig2

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of dietary betaine over a range of concentrations (between 0 and 0.5%) on growth and body composition in young feed-restricted pigs. Betaine is associated with decreased lipid deposition and altered protein utilization in finishing pigs, and it has been suggested that the positive effects of betaine on growth and carcass composition may be greater in energy-restricted pigs. Thirty-two barrows (36 kg, n = 8 pigs per group) were restrictively fed one of four corn-soybean meal-skim milk based diets (18.6% crude protein, 3.23 Mcal ME/kg) and supplemented with 0, 0.125, 0.25, or 0.5% betaine. Feed allotment was adjusted weekly according to BW, such that average feed intake was approximately 1.7 kg for all groups. At 64 kg, pigs were slaughtered and visceral tissue was removed and weighed. Carcasses were chilled for 24 h to obtain carcass measurements. Subsequently, one-half of each carcass and whole visceral tissue were ground for chemical analysis. Linear regression analysis indicated that, as betaine content of the diet was elevated from 0 to 0.5%, carcass fat concentration (P = 0.06), P3 fat depth (P = 0.14) and viscera weight (P = 0.129) were decreased, whereas total carcass protein (P = 0.124), protein deposition rate (P = 0.98), and lean gain efficiency (P = 0.115) were increased. The greatest differences over control pigs were observed in pigs consuming 0.5% betaine, where carcass fat concentration and P3 fat depth were decreased by 10 and 26%, respectively. Other fat depth measurements were not different (P > 0.15) from those of control pigs. In addition, pigs consuming the highest betaine level had a 19% increase in the carcass protein:fat ratio, 23% higher carcass protein deposition rate, and a 24% increase in lean gain efficiency compared with controls. Dietary betaine had no effects (P > 0.15) on growth performance, visceral tissue chemical composition, carcass fat deposition rate, visceral fat and protein deposition rates, or serum urea and ammonia concentrations. These data suggest that betaine alters nutrient partitioning such that carcass protein deposition is enhanced at the expense of carcass fat and in part, visceral tissue.

Betaine improves growth, but does not induce whole body or hepatic palmitate oxidation in swine (Sus scrofa domestica)

“…In contrast, other studies in finishing pigs have reported minimal or no effects of betaine on growth, feed intake or body fat (Matthews et al, 1998;Overland et al, 1999). In young, feedrestricted pigs, total body composition analysis indicated that betaine was associated primarily with decreased carcass fat, and an increase in protein deposition, particularly at higher levels of betaine intake (Fernandez-Fıgares et al, 2002).Ḿ uch of the evidence from growth trials, including from our lab (Fernandez-Fıgares et al, 2002),ś uggests that betaine may indeed depress overall fat deposition, and this study focused on betaine's potential stimulatory effects on lipid oxidation as a possible mechanism of action for fat reduction in growing pigs. Information on the role of betaine in altering lipid metabolism in the pig is limited to growth studies.…”

“…Only females were used in the current growth study, while we used castrated males in our previous growth trial (Fernandez-Fıgares et al, 2002). When male andf emale pigs have been compared directly, conflicting results have been previously obtained with respect to ability of betaine to alter growth and lipid metabolism (Lawrence et al, 2002).…”

Impact of dietary betaine and conjugated linoleic acid on insulin sensitivity, protein and fat metabolism of obese pigs

“…This study was designed to investigate possible mechanisms involved in the increased protein deposition and decreased fat content previously shown in the carcass of pigs fed diets supplemented with betaine and CLA (Ostrowska et al, 1999 andFerná ndez-Fígares et al, 2002 and2008;Mitchell et al, 2005). Serum metabolites and hormones that may indicate a modification in protein or energy metabolism were investigated in this study.…”

“…Chemical analyses of the basal diet were carried out according to the methods of AOAC (1990), as described by Ferná ndez-Fígares et al (2008). Hormones were measured using commercially available radio-immuno assay (RIA) or immuno-radiometric assay (IRMA) kits following the directions of the manufacturer, and the assays were validated for use in porcine serum in our laboratory (Ferná ndez-Fígares et al, 2007).…”

“…Most studies with betaine in pigs focus on the effect of betaine on growth performance, carcass characteristics and pork quality. Several reports have indicated that betaine could decrease carcass fat deposition and increase carcass lean in pigs (Matthews et al, 2001;Ferná ndez-Fígares et al, 2002), -E-mail: ifigares@eez.csic.es especially under restricted energy intake (Suster et al, 2004) conditions. In contrast, CLA is a collective name that refers to a mixture of positional and geometric conjugated isomers of linoleic acid.…”