Thermotolerance of Broiler Chicks Ingesting Dietary Betaine and/or Creatine

Abstract

Simple SummaryImproving broiler performance is still an essential task in animal production, especially under certain environmental challenge conditions. Heat stress is among the first and crucial limiting factors of the development of poultry production in warm regions. Betaine (B) and creatine (C) are seemingly two promising additives that showed enhancement in water metabolism in several animal species. Despite the clear beneficial effect of B and/or C on water metabolism, limited information is available about their use and effect on performance and thermophysiological responses of broiler chicks exposed to heat stress challenge. In view of the above consideration and in order to improve the productivity of broiler chickens, the present study was designed to examine the potential alteration in water metabolism in broiler chicks treated with B and/or C under thermoregulation challenge, which may contribute to the ongoing efforts to improve broiler chicken production. Under the current study conditions, the results demonstrated that performance and carcass parameters measured were not affected by B and/or C supplementation by the end of the rearing period. In light of the improved thermoregulatory performance and water balance indicators, it seems that B and/or C have successfully improved water holding capacity and therefore helped in enhancing thermo-tolerance.AbstractThe present study aimed to assess the effect of dietary betaine (B) and/or creatine (C) on performance and thermoregulatory responses of broiler chicks. Indian River broiler chicks, fitted with compact thermosensors, were reared to market age (five weeks). The chicks were randomly distributed into four treatment groups, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments—basal control diet (Control group: CONT; B−/C−); 1 g betaine/kg feed (Betaine group: BETA; B+/C−), 1.2 g creatine monohydrate/kg feed (Creatine group: CRET; B−/C+), and combination (Betaine and Creatine group: COMB; B+/C+) of both supplements. At 31 days of age, 20 chicks from each group were exposed to acute heat stress (A-HS) for 3 h (34.45 ± 0.20 °C), and hemogramic profiles were screened before and after. Performance parameters (feed intake, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio) were reported on a weekly basis, and carcass meat quality was evaluated at the end of experiment. Redness of breast was higher due to B and C treatments separately than the CONT group (B by C interaction; p < 0.05). Compared to the CONT, dietary supplements alleviated hyperthermia responses, with B alone being more efficient than C or COMB treatments. The mitigation of hyperthermia is likely mediated by enhancement of water balance indicators. Although not efficient in improving growth performance, dietary B and/or C are efficient in improving thermophysiological performance and survival of finishing broiler chicks under A-HS.

Betaine: A Potential Nutritional Metabolite in the Poultry Industry

“…It has been reported that increasing the level of carnitine [ 54 ] and creatine [ 55 ] in muscles [ 53 ] and creatinine in blood [ 56 ] depends on the capacity of betaine as a methyl donor. Dietary betaine and/or creatine have indicated significant efficacy in enhancing the water holding capacity, and consequently, efficient nutritional hyper-hydration process, thereby reducing the risk of broiler chicks exposed to high ambient temperature [ 57 ]. A recent study indicated that adding guanidino acetic acid and betaine to broiler ducks’ diets boosted their levels of creatine and ATP level in pectoral muscle as well as creatine kinase in the blood plasma, but reduced the activities of lactatedehydrogenase and L-arginine: glycine amidino transferase enzymes [ 58 ].…”

“…Broiler chickens that received dietary 0.05%, 0.05–0.10%, and 0.28% betaine showed no improvement in parameters of performance [ 10 , 79 ]. Dietary betaine and/or creatine supplementation during the rearing period of broiler chickens did not affect production parameters [ 57 ].…”

“…Moreover, adding betaine to broiler chickens’ diets induced no significant effect on carcass or breast yield and internal organs [ 45 , 113 ]. Carcass parameters, except the redness of breast muscle of broiler chickens, were not also affected by dietary betaine and/or creatine [ 57 ].…”

“…The study of Gudev et al [ 142 ] revealed a lower H/L ratio in broiler chickens who received betaine at a concentration of 1 g/kg of diet, compared to the control group. In broiler chickens subjected to a high temperature, both hematocrit and H/L ratios were also found to be positively affected by betaine and/or creatine supplementation [ 57 ].…”

“…However, several studies showed the heat-relieving effect of betaine in exposed broiler chickens [ 25 , 26 , 60 ]. Betaine efficiently improved thermo-physiological performance and alleviated chronic heat stress in broiler chickens [ 20 , 57 , 148 ]. Awad et al, stated that nutritional properties of betaine may help Domyati ducks to fight against poor management and heat-stress conditions [ 94 ].…”