Increasing breastmeat yield in broilers and turkeys

摘要

A sugar by-product, betaine is an osmolyte and methyl donor. Trials under commercial conditions have shown that dietary supplementation with betaine improves the high-value breast and can increase financial returns to the grower. In the current climate, where competition is fierce and every cost counts, maximising the return from every part of the business is crucial. For broiler and turkey producers, increasing breastmeat yield is a priority if full advantage is to be taken of its high market value in many countries. While bird genetic improvement has been a major driver in increasing the yield of breastmeat, there is still scope for further improvement by fine-tuning the diet to ensure that the full genetic potential of the bird is achieved. Onetactic for improving carcass characteristics, such as breastmeat yield, is to include the feed supplement, betaine, which is extracted from sugar beet and is a high value by-product of sugar production. Studies in collaboration with Danisco Animal Nutrition [formerly Finnfeeds] using Betafin, a highly purified form of betaine, have shown that diets including this supplement can increase breastmeat yield by, on average, 3 percent in broilers and turkeys under typical commercial conditions. Betaine increases breastmeat yield through its unique combined functions as an osmolyte and a methyl donor.