Synthetic betaine: Functional alternative in broiler nutrition

Betaine is an important ingredient in broiler nutrition. It improves production performance, replaces other methyl group donors such as choline and methionine, assists birds under heat stress conditions and improves slaughter characteristics. The major source so far has been betaine anhydrate extracted from sugar beet. However, a proper crystalline betaine hydrochloride has proven to also work well. This is available all year long and production capacity is independent to sugar beet production.