Effects Of Betaine On Performance And Serum Metabolites Of Weaned Piglets And Finishing Pigs

Three experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of betaine on performance,serum metabolites and carcass characteristics of weaned piglets and finishing pigs, as well asin the low energy diet.The objective of the experiment was to study the effects of betaine on grow performance andserum metabolites of weaned piglets.160“Duroc×Yorkshire×Landrace” weaning piglets(7.12±0.11) kg were randomly assigned to4treatments with40per treatment. Treatment1was the control group (fed the basal diet), Treatment2,3,4were respectively supplementedwith600mg/kg,900mg/kg,1,200mg/kg of betaine on the basis of control group. Theresults showed that betaine supplementation increased ADFI, ADG, and levels of GH andIGF-1in the serum of weaning piglets (P<0.05) and600mg/kg significantly (P<0.05) reducedthe amount of serum BUN and LDL. However, the addition of betaine had no significant effects(P>0.05) on serum TG, CHOL, HDL levels and metabolic enzyme activity. These results indicatedthat betaine could improve growth performance of weanling pigs, promote the deposition ofprotein and fat metabolism and the600mg/kg betaine was most effective.The objective of the experiment was to study the effect of different levels of betaine ongrowth performance, hormones, serum metabolism and carcass characteristics of finishingpigs.144crossbred barrows and gilts (Duroc×Yorkshire×Landrace) weighing83.53±4.57kgwere divided into four groups, each with three replications of twelve pigs (six barrows and sixgilts, Duroc×Yorkshire×Landrace) per replicate, and fed corn-soybean meal basal dietssupplement with0mg/kg,1000mg/kg,1500mg/kg and2000mg/kg betaine. The resultsshowed that1500mg/kg betaine increased (P<0.05) the ADFI. And the addition of1500mg/kg and2000mg/kg betaine in diets decreased the plasma urea N (BUN) significantly(P<0.05), increased the insulin-like growth factor-1(IGF-1) levels significantly (P<0.05).Meanwhile,1500mg/kg betaine group had the lowest TG concentration (P<0.05) and highestgrowth hormone (GH) concentration (P<0.05).2000mg/kg betaine group had the highest TP(P<0.05). Besides, ALP was increased significantly (P<0.05) in1000mg/kg betaine groupcompared with control group. Carcass length was increased significantly (P<0.05) in pigs fedbetaine, average backfat thickness was decreased significantly (P<0.05) in pigs fed1500 mg/kg betaine. The result of this experiment indicated: betaine improved finishing pigs’growth performance, protein deposition and lipid metabolism, and the addition of1500mg/kgwas the most effective.The objective of the experiment was to study the effect of1500mg/kg betaine on growthperformance, hormones, serum metabolism and carcass characteristics of finishing pigs in thelow energy diet (Countrol-2.5%DE and Countrol-5.0%DE diet).108crossbred barrows andgilts (Duroc×Yorkshire×Landrace) weighing about84.61±6.43kg were divided into threegroups, each with three replications of twelve pigs (six barrows and six gilts,Duroc×Yorkshire×Landrace) per replicate. The control group was fed corn-soybean mealbasal diets. Treatment2was fed low energy diet Ⅰ(Countrol-2.5%DE diet). Treatment3wasfed low energy diet Ⅱ (Countrol-5.0%DE diet). The results showed that ADFI was increasedsignificantly (P<0.05) in DE reduction groups. But the ADG, F/G, GH and IGF-1were notaffected significantly (P>0.05). However,2.5%DE reduction group had the highest TG andVLDL(P<0.05). The HDL, CK, HL and LPL were increased (P<0.05) in5%DE reductiongroup. The result of this experiment indicated: betaine could promote protein deposition, fatmetabolism, improve carcass quality in low energy diet. The ratio of5%reduction was betterthan2.5%.