respectively. A significant energy saving given that these ion pumps can require up to 2 ATP to ultimately move one molecule of potassium into a cell.


Far reaching benefits A strong body of evidence demonstrates a range of positive responses to Betafin natural betaine during heat stress among livestock. For example, studies on swine have found that natural betaine mitigates heat stress-related changes in intestinal permeability as measured by ileal transepithelial electrical resistance (TEER expressed as AU) and ileal fluorescein isothiocyanate-labelled dextran permeability (APP; Figure 1). This is particularly important in the context of heat stress, when the gut becomes more leaky due in part to shifts in blood flow away from the core towards the skin. In poultry, a series of trials (Table 1) illustrate the beneficial effects of natural betaine against key performance parameters including water retention, survival and feed conversion ratio (FCR). While a further study on broilers given natural betaine reported higher levels of water retention compared to non- treated birds exposed to cycling heat stress and/or coccidia challenge as stressors. Equally significant is the effect of natural betaine on the milk yield of lactating dairy cows on pasture. One study reported an improvement of 6% with betaine supplementation at 2g/kg concentrate under ambient summer temperatures (Figure 2). Plus, milk protein and fat yields (g/day) also increased with betaine addition. Furthermore, natural betaine has been shown to increase heat shock protein synthesis as part of thermal tolerance develop- ment. One study noted that heat stressed bovine mammary epithelial cells treated with betaine showed higher levels of heat shock proteins (HSP) 27 and 70 compared to non-supple- mented controls. At the whole animal level, supplementation of 114 ng betaine/kg lactating cow weight was shown to in- crease blood leukocyte HSP 70 with no change in HSP 27. Elsewhere, research also suggests a wider role for betaine sup- plementation during times of stress in terms of supporting gut microbial communities, improving respiration rate and rectal temperature, including noted effects in swine on supporting larger litters and shorter breeding intervals.


Multiple functions of natural betaine The dual action of Betafin makes it a highly effective means of alleviating heat stress in animals. As an osmolyte, it helps to protect cells against water loss and dehydration. While its function as a methyl donor promotes regeneration of me- thionine in the liver, which allows optimised dietary addition of choline and/or methionine in livestock diets. Overall, the multiple functions of natural betaine make it a valuable addi- tion to nutrition strategies designed to optimise livestock performance during these challenging conditions.


References are available on request ▶ HEAT STRESS | MAY 2021 39


Table 1 – Responses noted to natural betaine in i poultry under heat stress conditions. Trial


Application Parameter


Trial 1 water Trial 2 water1


Trial 3 Trial 4 Trial 5 Trial 62


feed feed feed1 feed


Trial 7 water1 Trial 8 water


Trial 92 feed1 Trial 10 feed 1 >1 Betaine treatment, 2


Water retention (ml) Survival (%)


FCR (g/g) FCR (g/g)


Corrected FCR (g/g) Corrected FCR (g/g) Mortality (% control) FCR (g/g)


Mortality (%)


Corrected FCR (g/g) Wt corrected FCR (g/g) BMY (% LW)


1.93ab Betaine 95a 93.8ab /98a


1.94a 2.20


/1.88ab 1.73a 48/61 1.84 3.72


/1.81a


Control (P value) 83b


84.9b 2.07b (0.05) (0.06) (0.05)


2.27 (0.32) 2.01b 1.84b


1.75/1.72 1.55 21.5


100 1.95 5.28 1.77


1.66 (0.05) 19.3 (0.05)


reduced supplementary methionine and/or choline in Betaine treatment


(0.05) (0.05)


14.5


10.5 14.2 6.3 3.0


4-10 11


39-52 5.6


29.5


1.1-2.8 7.1% 10%


Improvement %


PHOTO: HOLT STUDIOS/NIGEL CATTLIN


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