Effect of adding Betaine to the diet inWater Intake Pattern of Japanese quail exposed to heat stress

Abstract

This study was conducted at the poultry farm -Animal Department of Resources College Agriculture -AlQasim Green University, from 17/10/2014 To 4/12/2014 to investigate the effect of supplement Betaine to the diet on Water Intake Pattern during entire day and 3, 4, 5, and 6 weeks of Japanease quailthat exposed to heat stress.The trial was started at the age of 8 daysandthree hundred unsexed birds were used . Birds were raised in cages and randomly distributed into 5 treatments with 3 riplicates for each treatment and , 20 birds eachriplicate. Birds were exposed to the cyclic temperature (29-36.5-31.5)˚C . Treatments were as follows:T1: Control treatment (without supplementation) T2 : Diet supplemented with 500 mg betaine /kg diet . T3 : Diet supplemented with 1000 mg betaine /kg diet .T4 : Diet supplemented with 1500 mg betaine /kg diet .T5 : Diet supplemented with 2000 mg betaine /kg diet .The results:showed thatWater consumption for 24 hours by birds of T5 at 3rd and 4th weeks was significantly higher as compared with other treatments whileat 5th and 6th weeks, birds of T5 were superior compared with those of T1 and T2 .