Effect of dietary betaine supplementation on erythrocyte indices of male goat kids

Abstract

Goats (Capra hircus) play a crucial role in the livelihoods of small and marginal farmers, particularly in developing countries. Betaine, a naturally occurring compound, has been recognized for its role in methyl donation, osmo-protection, and stress resistance. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of dietary betaine supplementation on hematological parameters, specifically Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), and Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), in male goat kids. Eighteen non-descript male goat kids (4-5 months old, 8-9 kg body weight) were randomly assigned to three groups: T1 (control), T2 (betaine @ 2 g/animal/day), and T3 (betaine @ 4 g/animal/day). The experiment spanned four months, during which blood samples were collected at intervals (days 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120) for hematological analysis. Results showed a significant (p<0.05) reduction in MCV in the T3 group compared to the control, suggesting betaine’s potential role in red blood cell size regulation. While MCH values decreased over time across all groups, statistical analysis indicated no significant differences (p>0.05) between treatments. MCHC values exhibited a notable increase in betaine-supplemented groups (T2 and T3), with T3 demonstrating the highest values, suggesting an enhancement in erythropoiesis and hemoglobin synthesis.