Dietary betaine supplementation has energy-sparing effects in feedlot cattle during summer, particularly in those without access to shade

Abstract

Dietary betaine supplementation improves water retention in steers and may influence lean-tissue deposition, while also acting as an osmolyte to help regulate cellular osmotic balance. This study investigated the interactions between shade and dietary betaine on carcass characteristics, tissue enzyme activity and gene expression in 48 feedlot steers during summer. Steers were randomly allocated to a 4 × 2 factorial design with the factors being dietary betaine (0, 10, 20 or 40 g) and shade (with and without shade) for 120 days. Tissue samples were obtained at slaughter and analysed for gene expression of heat shock proteins 70 and 90 (HSP70/90) and expression of heat shock factor 1 (HSF1), a..