Dietary Supplementation of Rumen-Protected Methionine, Lysine and Choline Improves Lactation Performance and Blood Metabolic Profile of Karan-Fries Cows

Abstract

Twenty seven crossbred (Karan-Fries) cows between second and fourth lactation with most probable production ability of around 4500 kg milk were divided into three similar groups. Animals in the Control group were offered with a basal diet consisting of threshed wheat straw, chopped green maize forage and compounded concentrate mixture as per their requirements. In addition to basal diet, animals in second group (rpMetLys) were fed with 5 g of rumen-protected methionine and 20 g of rumen-protected lysine, and in third group (rpCholine), 54 g of rumen-protected choline was supplemented 40 days before and 120 days after calving. Results revealed higher (P < 0.01) intake of various nutrients along with better body condition score in rpMetLys group. Furthermore, milk yield and milk component (fat, protein and lactose) yield were higher (P < 0.01) in both the treatment groups with higher (P < 0.01) milk choline concentration in rpCholine group. Monounsaturated fatty acids and unsaturated fatty acids in milk tended to be higher (P < 0.05) in rpCholine group. Plasma metabolites like glucose, non-esterified fatty acids, cholesterol and plasma urea nitrogen were similar among all groups. Concentration of triglycerides and very low density lipoproteins was lower (P < 0.01) in rpMetLys and rpCholine than Control group. However, phosphatidylcholine and vitamin E levels were higher (P < 0.01) in rpCholine than other two groups. Methionine levels were higher (P < 0.01) in rpMetLys and rpCholine groups, whereas lysine was increased (P < 0.01) only in the former. Moreover, days open (service period) was decreased (P < 0.01) in animals belonging to rpCholine group. It was concluded from the present study that supplementation of rpMetLys and rpCholine to high-yielding crossbred cows was beneficial in terms of improving milk yield, composition as well as metabolic health status during early lactation period under Indian situation.