Effect of replacement different methionine levels and sources with betaine on blood metabolites, breast muscle morphology and immune response in heat-stressed broiler chickens

This study was performed to evaluate the effect of replacement different methionine (Met) levels and sources (DL or L) with betaine on blood metabolites, breast muscle morphology and immune response in heat-stressed broiler chickens. A total of 1200 unsexed day-old Ross-308 chicks were raised under the same condition in the first 10 days and then reared under normal or subnormal (32 °C) ambient temperatures for the 11 to 42 days of age. The experiment was designed as a split-plot factorial arrangement with 2 (temperatures) × 2 (Met sources) × 3 (Met levels) × 2 (betaine amounts). Met level in the basal diet was 30% lower than recommendation (Low-Met) and was increased to recommendation (Rec-Met) or 30% more than it (High-Met) by supplemental DL- or L-Met. Betaine was or was not substituted at the rate of 30% of the supplemental DL- or L-Met. From 11 to 24 d of age, broilers fed high-met diets showed better FCR than those received Low- and Rec-Met diet. High-Met diet under heat stress (HS) showed highest plasma uric acid and homocysteine concentration than two other diets, under normal or HS condition. Replacing 30% of the supplemental Met with betaine showed lower plasma homocysteine concentration compared to non-supplemented betaine diets. Birds fed Low- and Rec-Met diets under normal condition showed a significant decrease in heterophil/lymphocyte ratio compared to their counterparts under HS. Birds fed L-Met supplemented diet showed a greater myofibers diameter than birds fed DL-Met diet. In general, High-Met diet decreased heterophil/lymphocyte ratio and FCR of broilers. A total of 30% of dietary supplemental Met can be replaced by betaine.Highlights Heat stress increase methionine requirements of broiler chickens. L-methionine increases breast yield in compare with DL-methionine. Betaine in animal feed can be replaced by methionine without adverse effect on broiler chickens.