The application of betaine in livestock and poultry breeding is paid attention by people? The main reason is that betaine can provide active methyl groups in animal metabolism, form methyltransferase with homocysteine, and participate in methylation reactions, so it is called "life methylating agent".

In addition, betaine also has the function of providing active methyl groups as well as choline and methionine, but the ability of betaine to provide methyl groups is several times that of choline and 3.8 times that of methionine.

1 The relationship between betaine and choline
 
When choline provides methyl, it must be oxidized to betaine in mitochondria before it can play a role. This oxidation reaction is easily inhibited by nickel, cobalt, and iron salts. It will also be caused by riboflavin deficiency and anticoccidial drugs. The response is inhibited, that is, the ability of choline to provide methyl groups is reduced, while betaine's conversion of methyl groups is not affected. Sketol (1953) and others proved that the value of choline in providing methyl groups is not high, and the main nutritional effect of adding choline to feed is on the synthesis of phospholipids and the synthesis of acetylcholine.

2 The relationship between betaine and methionine

Under the action of betaine-homocysteine ​​methyltransferase, betaine supplies a methyl group to homocysteine ​​to form methionine. Dubnoff (1949) proved that this reaction is quite rapid. The formed methionine provides methyl groups for other metabolisms (such as creatine synthesis, DNA methylation, etc.) after activation.

In summary

Betaine can partially replace methionine, and the general replacement ratio can reach 3 times in theory, but it is often 2 times in actual use, that is, 1 kg of betaine (in pure crystal) can replace 2 kg of methionine (in pure product).