Improved growth performance

120 female pigs were fed either a control commercial diet or the control diet supplemented with 2, 4 and 6% betaine for 31 days. Pigs fed betaine had:

- lower average daily feed intake (ADFI) (for 2% diet)
- higher average daily gain (ADG)
- lower feed conversion ratio (FCR)
- increased loin CIE a* (redness)
- higher loin shear force value
- decreased total blood cholesterol concentrations
- increased saturated fatty acid and decreased unsaturated fatty acid levels in muscle
- increased betaine concentrations in the loin muscle

It was concluded that dietary betaine supplementation of finishing pigs can improve growth performance, reduce blood cholesterol concentrations, and produce detectable betaine concentrations in the lion muscle.

Yang et al (2009). "Effects of dietary glycine betaine on growth and pork quality of finishing pigs." Asian-Australasion J Animal Sci 22(5): 706.