Responses to betaine and inorganic sulphur of sheep in growth performance and fibre growth

Abstract

Sulphur-containing amino acids (SAA) are essential and usually the first limiting amino acids for growth, milk and wool production. The keratin fibre that grows from epidermal tissue is rich in SAA. The rate of fibre growth and its S content are influenced by the availability of SAA. Betaine is a dietary source for a labile methyl group and actively participates in methionine metabolism by donating methyl groups for the remethylation of homocysteine to methionine. Ruminants are capable of synthesizing SAA from inorganic S sources, and most bacteria in the rumen can use inorganic S to meet their requirements for growth. The objective of this study was to examine whether betaine and an inorganic sulphur supplement could provide methyl groups and sulphur amino acids in a way that growth performance and wool production of ewes and lambs are improved. Treatments performed included betaine supplementation, sulphate supplementation and betaine plus sulphate supplementation with five replications for each treatment. The dry matter intake of the ewes was affected by betaine plus sulphate supplementation (p < 0.05). In the ewes, betaine plus sulphate supplementation increased (p < 0.05) the wool growth rate, wool yield, staple length and wool sulphur concentration, while decreasing wool wax and wool yellowness (p < 0.05). In the lambs, wool growth rate, wool yield, fibre diameter, staple length, staple strength, wool sulphur concentration, wool wax and fibre percentage did not differ (p > 0.05) between treatments. In the ewes, plasma methionine concentration increased (p < 0.05) with betaine plus sulphate treatment. No corresponding difference (p > 0.05) was observed in plasma methionine concentration in the lambs. It can be concluded that betaine plus sulphate supplementation has the potential to change wool characteristics in the ewes, while these compounds were without any effect on growth and wool production of the lambs. Combining the two supplements was advantageous.

Effect of Early Shearing on The Nutritional Metabolism, Growth Performance and Carcass Traits of Barki Lambs تأثير الجز المبکر على التمثيل الغذائي وکفاءة النمو وصفات الذبيحة في الحملان البرقي

“…These results are mostly consistent with previous study for Barki lambs (Kewan 2013a) which ranged between 3.23 and 3.37%. However, it was higher than the range recorded for non-pregnant Romney ewes; 2.73-3.26% (Barry and Andrews, 1973) and lactating Naeini ewes; 2.08-2.56% in (Nezamidoust et al, 2014). However, Bray (2002) found that wool sulfur concentration increased (P< 0.01) by increasing sulfur in diet.…”

Impact of betaine as a feed additive on livestock performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality- a review

“…Such as, in lambs, Fernández et al (2000) found that betaine (2 g/kg of diet) did not influence feed intake. In addition, in ewes, Nezamidoust et al (2014) indicated that betaine (5 g/kg of diet) did not affect the dry matter intake. Likewise, in both barrows and gilts, Siljander-Rasi et al (2003) found that the dietary intake was not influenced by different levels of dietary betaine (250, 500 or 1000 mg/kg of diet).…”

A Meta-Analysis of the Effects of Dietary Betaine on Milk Production, Growth Performance, and Carcass Traits of Ruminants

“…Some studies have not reported information on the sources of dietary betaine used, which eliminated any standardization for purity. Anhydrous betaine was used in most studies, including [ 14 , 20 , 21 ]: 98% purity, [ 22 , 23 ]: 96% purity, [ 9 ]: 93%, [ 10 , 12 ],: 97% purity, [ 24 ]: 30% purity. Other forms included betaine hydrochloride [ 25 , 26 ], and natural betaine [ 27 , 28 ].…”

“…Table S1: Summary of references and experimental design for the experiments included in the meta-analysis. References [ 3 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 14 , 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 , 24 , 25 , 26 , 28 , 29 , 30 , 31 , 33 , 35 , 37 , 40 , 41 , 43 , 44 , 45 , 46 , 58 ] are cited in the supplementary materials.…”