Effect of betaine supplementation on the growth pattern of quails reared in a tropical environment

Abstract

Betaine plays a vital role in forming amino acids to compose proteins, converted into structural tissue in poultry. This study aimed to predict the growth pattern of quails fed diet supplemented with betaine using a logistic regression model. In total, 84 10-day-old quails were divided into two treatments (T0: control, T1: betaine supplementation 0.12%). The diets were given in 2 phases (starter: 22% crude protein; layer: 20% crude protein), where weekly bodyweight data was recorded in each phase. The t-test was conducted to see the effect between treatments, while logistic regression was used to predict the pattern of bodyweight growth. The result showed no effect of betaine in bodyweight parameters (p>0.05) between T0 and T1 both for the starter and layer phases which might be associated with the nutrient sufficiency in the diet, particularly dietary protein. The logistic model's bodyweight prediction has high accuracy with the fitness value for T0=99% and T1=98%. It can be concluded that betaine supplementation in high nutritional diets could not modify the growth pattern of quails.