BetaTrace®: Betaine Goes Metal!

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The essential nature of trace minerals in the diet is well known and that this need increases with production or stress is also well described. Trace minerals are divided between inorganic and organic forms. While inorganic trace minerals are readily available and inexpensive, organic trace minerals reign supreme in absorption, effectiveness, and overall benefits. Typically, organic trace minerals are complexed with small peptides or amino acids to enhance their uptake.

Now, there’s a new player in town: introducing BetaTrace®, a unique, patent-pending organic trace mineral source where the mineral is bound to betaine—a functional binding partner. Due to its high degree of complexation, BetaTrace® offers significantly improved absorption compared to conventional inorganic sources such as sulfates, resulting in improved performance and reduced heavy metal excretion, coupled with the added value of betaine.

Why betaine? Betaine is an amazing ingredient that provides excellent methyl group donor capability, which is essential for protein and lipid metabolism. Both high-yielding and young animals have particularly high requirements here, and BetaTrace® is the perfect solution! This incredible 2-in-1 invention supports performance and health even more intensively, making it a must-have for any animal nutrition program.

Both betaine and organic trace minerals play significant roles in various physiological metabolic processes. Organic minerals serve as essential components and cofactors for numerous enzymes, vitamins, and hormones (Figure 1). Meanwhile, the metabolic powerhouse betaine provides excellent methyl group donor capabilities. This is especially important for protein and lipid metabolism (Figure 2).

Figure 1: The many essential functions of trace minerals.

Figure 2: The importance of betaine in methylation. Adapted from Eklund et al., 2005.

Particularly high-yielding and young animals, as well as fattening animals and those in stressful situations (like heat stress) benefit greatly from BetaTrace®. This innovative 2-in-1 solution meets the high requirements for these nutrients demanded by these animals. BetaTrace®’s perfect match provides optimal performance and health and excels in four key areas that prevent modern livestock farming in reaching higher productivity and well-being.

A healthy gut is a barrier that prevents toxins and pathogens from entering the body. BetaTrace® promotes gut integrity and intestinal barrier function through the regeneration of damaged gut cells and the maintenance of the proteins that hold intestinal cells together. BetaTrace® helps maintain normal intestinal cell function during challenges like coccidia infections or diarrhea (Figure 3).

Figure 3: The parts of a healthy intestine and a strong intestinal barrier.

As an integral part of a functioning immune system, BetaTrace® helps to maintain the barrier function of the skin and gut intact by improving wound healing and protecting against cell damage. Additionally, suppressing the upregulation of inflammatory cytokines and preventing the excessive accumulation of homocysteine by BetaTrace® also helps to alleviate inflammatory processes. Under conditions of stress, the formation of reactive oxygen species overwhelms internal antioxidant defenses, leading to oxidative stress. BetaTrace® mitigates oxidative stress as a critical part of the antioxidant system and actively helps restore enzymatic antioxidants as they are used (Figure 4).

Figure 4: BetaTrace® works to reduce free radicals as part of the antioxidant system.

BetaTrace® plays several roles in energy metabolism. BetaTrace® assists in the metabolism of carbohydrates and cholesterol. In addition, BetaTrace® helps to improve the free passage of nutrients into cells and to regulate glucose levels and fatty acid breakdown. BetaTrace® provides the methyl groups needed for creatine and carnitine synthesis—important for energy conservation and fatty acid metabolism.

BetaTrace® Zn was tested in a 35-day feeding trial for its effects on production parameters at Poznań University of Life Sciences. Two groups of genetic Ross 308 broilers (54 birds / group; 6 replicates / group) were fed diets supplemented with either 40 ppm zinc from ZnSO₄ (control) or BetaTrace® Zn (treatment) in addition to the 40 ppm native zinc contained in the basal diets.

After a 35 days fattening period, birds in the BetaTrace® Zn treatment group had an increased body mass and significantly improved feed conversion ratio when compared to the control group (p < 0.05; Figure 5). Additionally, the European Production Efficiency Factor (EPEF) was significantly higher in birds fed BetaTrace® Zn compared to birds in the ZnSO₄ control group (p < 0.05; Figure 5). The EPEF is a standardization of technical results, calculated from feed conversion, mortality, and daily gain. As such, it can be used to compare broiler results from different flocks and different regions.

Figure 5: Broilers supplemented with zinc from BetaTrace® Zn had increased body mass and significantly improved FCR when compared to the control group (p < 0.05). Additionally, the EPEF was significantly higher in birds fed BetaTrace® Zn compared to birds in the ZnSO4 control group (p < 0.05).

BetaTrace® has several technical advantages, including excellent solubility for improved flexibility and a granular form for better flowability and less dust formation. Moreover, BetaTrace®’s verified high degree of complexation ensures effectiveness with positive effects on animal performance. BetaTrace® meets the challenges of modern livestock farming!