The role of trimethylglycine (betaine) as an anti-heat stress agent in sustainable poultry Production: Enhancing growth, stress resilience, and nutrient utilization.

In recent years, the important role of feed additives in enhancing poultry performance has gained considerable attention in poultry husbandry. Betaine, a naturally occurring compound in various plant and animal sources, has become particularly valued for its ability to improve animal production, especially under challenging conditions. This article focuses on the significant role of Betaine (Bet) in the poultry industry as an affordable and effective natural feed ingredient. Specifically, it will explore the multiple functions of Bet as a feed additive and its impact on growth performance, carcass traits, egg production, blood parameters, and alleviating heat stress in poultry. Betaine, a methyl donor, has the potential to spare nutrients such as choline or methionine, leading to improvements in poultry growth performance characteristics. Furthermore, Bet possesses excellent osmolytic properties, which help alleviate heat stress by maintaining cellular osmotic balance and protecting body tissues from the detrimental effects of osmotic stress. In conclusion, Betaine's cost-effectiveness and multifaceted benefits make it an ideal feed ingredient for improving poultry growth performance and mitigating the negative impacts of heat stress. Moreover, it is recommended to use supplementation levels ranging from 0.5 to 2.0 g/kg of diet to achieve optimal poultry performance. This review aims to highlight the potential of Betaine to be a key player in the future of sustainable poultry production.