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Performance Indices, Carcass Characteristics, Organs, and Thermal Stress Responses of Broiler Chicken Exposed to Dietary Betaine Hydrochloride During Hot Season

Authors

  • Oladimeji, Tosin S. Department of Animal Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
  • Ogunlade, Jacob T. Department of Animal Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
  • Olatundun, Bukola E. Department of Animal Science, University of Ilesa, Ilesa, Osun State, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2758-7801

    bukolaezekiel2002.be@gmail.com

  • Jimoh, Olatunji A. Department of Animal Production Technology, Federal Polytechnic, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8204-5816
  • Kayode, Yetunde Department of Animal Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
  • Tadobo, Oluwagbenga Department of Animal Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
  • Omotosho, Boluwaji Department of Animal Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
  • Kareem, Abiola Department of Animal Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
  • Anerunoye, Folake Department of Animal Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria
  • Ojo, Oluwafemi Department of Animal Science, Ekiti State University, Ado Ekiti, Ekiti State, Nigeria

Abstract

The impact of varied levels of betaine hydrochloride on performance indices, carcass characteristics and thermal stress of broilers during the hot season was assessed by this study. 180 day-old broiler chicks were distributed into 5 treatments labeled T1, T2, T3 and T4 randomly. Replicated three times, each treatment had 36 birds while 12 birds were allotted to each replicate. The treatments were as follows: T1 (control: 0 g of betaine/kg feed); T2 (1 g of betaine/kg feed); T3 (2 g of betaine/kg feed); T4 (3 g of betaine/kg feed); and T5 (4 g of betaine/kg feed). The birds were placed on these diets for 10 weeks. From the findings, it was found that the growth parameters were not different, with no significant (p>0.05) changes in the weights of the primal cuts when compared with the birds on the control diet. At weeks 7 to 10, there was a decrease in the panting rate of the broilers as betaine level increased, implying that the addition of betaine in the broiler diets lowered their thermal stress. In weeks 3 to 10, the rectal temperatures were not different apart from week 8 which was affected significantly. From these results, it is evident that commercially produced betaine HCL administered at 2g/kg diet can enhance broiler chicken performance during the hot season.

Keywords:

Betaine Hydrochloride Broiler Chicken Panting Rectal Temperature Thermoregulation

Article information

Journal

Journal of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Animal Science

Volume (Issue)

2(2), (2025)

Pages

73-79

Published

27-08-2025

How to Cite

Oladimeji, T. S., Ogunlade, J. T., Olatundun, B. E., Jimoh, O. A., Kayode, Y., Tadobo, O., Omotosho, B., Kareem, A., Anerunoye, F., & Ojo, O. (2025). Performance Indices, Carcass Characteristics, Organs, and Thermal Stress Responses of Broiler Chicken Exposed to Dietary Betaine Hydrochloride During Hot Season. Journal of Agriculture, Aquaculture, and Animal Science, 2(2), 73-79. https://doi.org/10.69739/jaaas.v2i2.898

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