Abstract:

A total of 120 one-day-old Arbor Acres broilers were randomly divided into 2 dietary treatment groups with 6
replicates of 10 broilers in each cage. The control broilers were fed a basal diet and those in the treatment group were fed
a basal diet supplemented with 750 mg/kg betaine until 42 days of age. The results showed that betaine supplementation
increased significantly (P < 0.05) breast muscle percentage and crude protein content. Betaine increased significantly
(P < 0.05) pH24 h and decreased (P < 0.05) drip loss at 48 h postmortem, but had no effect on meat color. Moreover,
betaine increased significantly (P < 0.05) superoxide dismutase activity and glutathione content, and decrease (P < 0.05)
malondialdehyde content in breast muscle. These results suggested that betaine was effective in improving breast muscle
percentage and the crude protein content in breast muscle. Moreover, betaine has positive effect on pH, water-holding
capacity and antioxidant function in breast muscle of broilers.

Key words: betaine, broiler, carcass characteristics, meat quality, antioxidant capacity