Lipid metabolite profiles and milk production for Holstein and Jersey cows fed rumen-protected choline during the periparturient period.
Choline is important for assembly of very low density lipoproteins to export triglyceride from liver; however, studies to assess the effect of rumen-protected choline (RPC) supplementation on blood lipid metabolites in periparturient dairy cows have not been conducted. Thirty-two multiparous Holstein and 10 multiparous Jersey cows were randomly assigned to control or RPC treatments. A close-up diet was fed from approximately 3 wk before parturition through parturition, followed by a lactation diet from parturition through 49 d postpartum. For RPC, diets were top-dressed once daily with 60 g of a RPC product (25% choline as choline chloride) from 21 d before expected parturition through 21 d postpartum. Treatment did not affect dry matter intake either prepartum (12.0 vs. 12.1 kg/d for RPC and control, respectively) or during the first 3 wk postpartum (14.8 vs. 15.7 kg/d, respectively). Daily yields of 3.5% fat-corrected milk (39.4 vs. 37.4 kg/d), fat (1.46 vs. 1.38 kg/d), and protein (1.09 vs. 1.05 kg/d) did not differ statistically by treatment (RPC vs. control, respectively). Jersey cows in the control group had lower concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate in plasma during d 1 to 10 postpartum than did other breed and treatment combinations. Cows fed RPC tended to have greater serum triglycerides prepartum (17.0 vs. 14.7 mg/dL) and lower plasma phospholipid at parturition (65.2 vs. 78.1 mg/dL) than control cows. Treatment did not affect cholesterol and phospholipid at other time points, but concentrations followed patterns of dry matter intake pre- and postpartum. Cows were in moderate body condition score (mean = 3.3) at the start of the study and did not lose excessive condition by 3 wk postpartum (mean body condition score loss = 0.5); therefore, cows might not have been at great risk for hepatic lipid accumulation. Additionally, calculated Met balance was negative postpartum; supplemental RPC might not have spared enough Met to produce a physiological benefit. More research is needed to determine how choline affects prevention or alleviation of fatty liver syndrome and to confirm potential differences between Holstein and Jersey cows.
Guretzky
N A Janovick
NA
Department of Animal Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, 61801, USA.
Carlson
D B
DB
Garrett
J E
JE
Drackley
J K
JK
D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid / Q000097:blood; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000032:analysis; D002417:Cattle / Q000502:physiology*; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D002794:Choline / Q000008:administration & dosage*; D004032:Diet / Q000662:veterinary*; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D007774:Lactation; D016018:Least-Squares Analysis; D050356:Lipid Metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008099:Liver / Q000378:metabolism; D036801:Parturition; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000097:blood; D011247:Pregnancy; D012417:Rumen / Q000378:metabolism*; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D001786:Blood Glucose; D005230:Fatty Acids, Nonesterified; D008055:Lipids; D010743:Phospholipids; D014280:Triglycerides; D002784:Cholesterol; D002794:Choline; D020155:3-Hydroxybutyric Acid