Effects Of Rumen-protected Choline Supplementation Research Articles

Effect of rumen-protected choline supplementation on production performance and haemato-biochemical profile of Kankrej cows

A study was conducted to examine the effect of supplementation of rumen-protected choline chloride (RPC) on production performance and haemato-biochemical parameters of Kankrej cows. Twenty Kankrej cows were randomly allocated to two treatment groups: control (CON: fed basal diet without supplement) and treatment (RPC: basal diet supplemented with50 g/d/cow of RPC) from 4-weeks pre-partum through 8-weekspost-partum. Results showed that average body weights and dry matter intake were not affected (P<0.05) by the supplementation of RPC. There was significant (P<0.05)improvement in yields of milk (11.10 vs. 12.45 kg/d), FCM (10.93vs. 12.49 kg/d) and ECM (12.07 vs. 13.76 kg/d) with RPC supplementation when compared with cows fed on the control diet. The milk fat, SNF, total solids, protein and lactose contents did not differ (P>0.05) between the treatment groups. Supplementation of RPC improved feed efficiency in terms of kg of 4% FCM/kg of DMI and kg of ECM/kg of DMI in lactating cows. The higher (P<0.05) serum glucose concentration (65.72vs.62.05 mg/dL) was observed in RPC than the CON. Supplementation of RPC reduced (P<0.05) concentration of serum triglycerides (27.27 vs.31.38 mg/dL) as compared to the CON group. Other estimated blood metabolites were not influenced(P>0.05) by the supplementation of RPC. In conclusion, supplementation of 50 g/d rumen-protected choline during peripartum period improved milk production, feed efficiency and blood glucose in Kankrej cows.

Effects of rumen-protected choline supplementation in Holstein dairy cows during electric heat blanket-induced heat stress

Dairy cows experiencing heat stress (HS) attempt to thermoregulate through multiple mechanisms, such as reducing feed intake and milk production and altering blood flow to increase heat dissipation. Effects of choline on energy metabolism and immune function may yield it a viable nutritional intervention to mitigate negative effects of HS. The primary objective of this experiment was to determine if supplementation of rumen-protected choline during, or before and during, an increased heat load would ameliorate the negative effects of HS on production and immune status. Heat stress was induced via an electric heat blanket model with a 3-d baseline period and 7-d HS period for all cows. Multiparous mid-lactation (208 ± 31 days in milk) Holstein cows were fed the same basal herd diet, blocked by pre-experiment milk yield, and randomly assigned to receive one of the following: (1) no rumen-protected (RP) choline (n = 7); (2) RP choline (60 g/d) via top-dress during the HS period (n = 8); or (3) RP choline (60 g/d) via top-dress during the baseline and HS periods (n = 8). Imposing HS via electric heat blanket raised respiration rate with all cows surpassing the HS threshold of 60 breaths/min. The increase in respiration rate tended to be ameliorated with either schedule of RP choline supplementation. Milk yield tended to increase when RP choline was supplemented in both the baseline period and during HS. Supplementation of RP choline tended to reduce blood fatty acid and triglyceride and tended to increase the revised quantitative insulin sensitivity check index. The role of RP choline supplementation to partially ameliorate the effects of HS should be further explored as a potential nutritional strategy to mitigate the negative consequences of HS on health and production.

Effect of rumen-protected choline supplementation on liver and adipose gene expression during the transition period in dairy cattle

We previously reported that supplementation of rumen-protected choline (RPC) reduces the hepatic triacylglycerol concentration in periparturient dairy cows during early lactation. Here, we investigated the effect of RPC on the transcript levels of lipid metabolism-related genes in liver and adipose tissue biopsies, taken at wk −3, 1, 3, and 6 after calving, to elucidate the mechanisms underlying this RPC-induced reduction of hepatic lipidosis. Sixteen multiparous cows were blocked into 8 pairs and randomly allocated to either 1 of 2 treatments, with or without RPC. Treatments were applied from 3wk before to 6wk after calving. Both groups received a basal diet and concentrate mixture. One group received RPC supplementation, resulting in an intake of 14.4g of choline per day, whereas controls received an isoenergetic mixture of palm oil and additional soybean meal. Liver and adipose tissue biopsies were taken at wk −3, 1, 3, and 6 to determine the mRNA abundance of 18 key genes involved in liver and adipose tissue lipid and energy metabolism. Milk samples were collected in wk 1, 2, 3, and 6 postpartum for analysis of milk fatty acid (FA) composition. The RPC-induced reduction in hepatic lipidosis could not be attributed to altered lipolysis in adipose tissue, as no treatment effect was observed on the expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, lipoprotein lipase, or FA synthase in adipose tissue, or on the milk FA composition. Rumen-protected choline supplementation increased the expression of FA transport protein 5 and carnitine transporter SLC22A5 in the liver, suggesting an increase in the capacity of FA uptake and intracellular transport, but no treatment effect was observed on carnitine palmitoyl transferase 1A, transporting long-chain FA into mitochondria. In the same organ, RPC appeared to promote apolipoprotein B-containing lipoprotein assembly, as shown by elevated microsomal triglyceride transfer protein expression and apolipoprotein B100 expression. Cows supplemented with RPC displayed elevated levels of glucose transporter 2 mRNA and a reduced peak in pyruvate carboxylase mRNA immediately after calving, showing that supplementation also resulted in improved carbohydrate metabolism. The results from this study suggest that RPC supplementation reduces liver triacylglycerol by improved FA processing and very-low-density lipoprotein synthesis, and RPC also benefits hepatic carbohydrate metabolism.

Effects of rumen-protected choline supplementation on milk production and choline supply of periparturient dairy cows

The objective of the present study was to determine the effects of rumen-protected choline (RPC) supplementation on body condition, milk production and milk choline content during the periparturient period. Thirty-two Holstein cows were allocated into two groups (RPC group – with RPC supplementation, and control group – without RPC supplementation) 28 days before the expected calving. Cows were fed the experimental diet from 21 days before expected calving until 60 days of lactation. The daily diet of the RPC group contained 100 g of RPC from 21 days before calving until calving and 200 g RPC after calving for 60 days of lactation, which provided 25 g and 50 g per day choline, respectively. Body condition was scored on days −21, 7, 35 and 60 relative to calving. Milk production was measured at every milking; milk fat, protein and choline content were determined on days 7, 35 and 60 of lactation. Body condition was not affected by RPC supplementation. Milk yield was 4.4 kg higher for the group of cows receiving supplementary choline during the 60 days experimental period and 4% fat-corrected milk production was also increased by 2.5 kg/day. Milk fat content was not altered by treatment, but fat yield was increased by 0.10 kg/day as a consequence of higher milk yield in the RPC-treated group. Milk protein content tended to increase by RPC supplementation and a 0.18 kg/day significant improvement of protein yield was detected. Milk choline content increased in both groups after calving as the lactating period advanced. However, milk choline content and choline yield were significantly higher in the RPC group than in the control group. The improved milk choline and choline yield provide evidence that some of the applied RPC escaped ruminal degradation, was absorbed from the small intestine and improved the choline supply of the cows and contributed to the changes of production variables.

Effects of Rumen-protected Choline Supplementation in Periparturient Dairy Goats

D’Ambrosio, F., Campagnoli, A., Susca, F., Fusi, E., Rebucci, R., Agazzi, A, Pinotti, L. and Baldi, A., 2007. Effects of rumen-protected choline supplementation in periparturient dairy goats. Veterinary Research Communications, 31(Suppl. 1), 393–396