Effects of dietary supplementation of betaine and sepiolite supplementation on performance and intestinal health in broilers

Abstract

The aim of the study was to explain the effects of betaine and sepiolite in diets on performance, carcass characteristics, some blood parameters and some intestinal health parameters in broilers. A total of 192 daily Ross 308 male broiler chicks were divided into one control group and three experiment groups each containing 48 chicks. Betaine and sepiolite was added as top dressed to the diets of experimental groups at the level of 0.15% betaine (1st group), 1.5% sepiolite (2nd group) and 0.15% betaine + 1.5% sepiolite (3rd group). Sepiolite and betaine were not added to the diet of control group. The experimental period was 6 weeks. No differences were observed in body weight, overall body weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass yield and the relative weights of gizzard, heart, liver, spleen and bursa of Fabricius among groups. The relative weight of abdominal fat decreased with betaine usage. Supplemental betaine increased relative percentage of kidney weight. Dietary supplementation of betaine with sepiolite had some positive effects on intestinal histomorphology characteristics. The level of serum triglyceride was reduced with 0.15% betaine inclusion in the diet. Albumin, cholesterol, protein, uric acid, AST, ALP and ALT levels of blood serum were not affected by betaine with and without sepiolite supplement. Blood serum IgG level was increased by dietary supplementation of betaine with and without sepiolite. It is concluded that the dietary usage of betaine with sepiolite in broilers can be useful in the field due to having some improvements in intestinal histomorphology and immunity.