1、 It can improve the effect of anti coccidiosis drugs in broilers


Betaine can effectively stabilize the normal intestinal function of broilers affected by coccidiosis, and improve the effect of anti coccidiosis.


Coccidiosis is a serious threat to the production of broilers. Even though anti coccidiosis drugs are widely used, coccidiosis outbreaks occur occasionally. The research of Jeng et al. (1981) showed that the broilers infected with coccidiosis had insufficient protein and carbohydrate digestion, and the absorption of lipid pigments was blocked. In addition, the resistance of broilers infected with coccidiosis is reduced and they are easy to be infected with other diseases [8]. The coccidia also affect the intestinal ion balance and change the physical properties of the intestine, such as intestinal length. In addition to affecting the ion concentration of the body cells, the ion carrier anti coccidial drugs may also change the ion balance of the host animals, especially the intestinal ions, which affect the normal function of the intestinal tract. Betaine, as a cell ion osmotic protective agent, can effectively stabilize the intestinal ion balance.


According to the research of Finnish Cultor Company (1994), when broilers are infected with coccidiosis, adding betaine can significantly improve the effect of anti coccidiosis drugs. Compared with the control group (adding coccidiosis drugs), adding betaine can significantly improve the growth rate and feed conversion rate of broilers. Finland (1995) studied the effect of betaine on nutrient digestibility of broilers infected with coccidiosis. The experimental chickens were inoculated with Eimeria coccidia at the age of 14 days, and the anti coccidial drug (salinomycin) was added. The study showed that the digestibility of the main nutrients (dry matter, crude protein, crude fat, lysine) measured at the age of 21 days in the test group supplemented with betaine was significantly higher than that in the control group, of which the digestibility of protein was 75.40% in the control group, 80.49% in the test group, and 83.18% in broilers without coccidiosis. At the same time, it was found that anti coccidiosis drugs could reduce the mortality of broilers, but had no effect on improving feed conversion rate. Matthews et al. (1995) studied the interaction between betaine and monenmycin (anti coccidiosis drug). The results also showed that 55 mg/kg monenmycin could effectively prevent the death of chickens infected with coccidiosis, but it could not improve the feed utilization rate, while 55 mg/kg monenmycin plus 0.10% betaine could significantly improve the feed utilization rate.


2、 Improve laying rate and feed conversion rate of laying hens


The addition of betaine to the feed can increase the egg production rate and feed conversion rate of laying hens, and improve the egg quality. Ralcin et al. (1995) reported that 100 mg/kg betaine added to the diet could significantly improve the performance of laying hens. Zheng Changfeng et al. (1998) added 1000 mg/kg betaine to the diet of laying hens, the egg production rate increased by 11.08%, the feed to egg ratio decreased by 10.36%, and the egg weight increased with the increase of betaine in the diet; Betaine can reduce broken eggs and abnormal eggs (P<0.05), improve egg quality, promote the synthesis of concentrated protein and yolk (P<0.05), and reduce the content of cholesterol in yolk. Wang Ruojun et al. (1999) substituted betaine for 50% methionine or 100% methionine in the late peak period of egg production, which could alleviate the decline of egg production rate in the late period of egg production, thus improving the feed conversion rate.