ARTICLE 66 FEED & ADDITIVE MAGAZINE June 2022 Ruminal destruction of dietary choline is high in dairy cows and very little is available to the small intestine for absorption (Atkins et al., 1988; Sharma and Erdman, 1989). Therefore, ruminants are highly dependent on supplemental forms of rumen protected choline. Several published research experiments have provided evidence of fatty liver alleviation when supplying cows with rumen protected choline (Cooke et al., 2007; Zom et al., 2011 and Zenobi et al., 2018). Additionally, Dutch researchers (Goselink et al., 2012) demonstrated greater gene expression for proteins involved with lipoprotein synthesis and assembly in liver of transition cows supplemented with rumen-protected choline. CHOLINE IS ESSENTIAL FOR COW HEALTH AND PRODUCTIVITY The effects of supplying intestinally available choline go beyond improvements in just liver health. A review of university trials has consistently shown a milk production improvement for cows receiving choline during the transition phase. University of Florida data demonstrates the lasting impact choline delivers. In the study, cows fed ReaShure during the transition period had higher peaks and produced an additional 2,10 kg of milk per day during the 40week trial period. That resulted in 640,50 kg more milk per cow over a 305-day lactation, on average. Reduced incidences of metabolic disorders, such as clinical ketosis and mastitis, have been observed when feeding rumen-protected choline during the transition period (Lima et al., 2011). A recent meta-analysis of 21 experiments in which rumen-protected choline was fed to multiparous transition cows revealed increases in pre- and postpartum DMI, and improved yields of milk, ECM, protein and fat when compared to unsupplemented controls (Arshad et al., 2020)(Figure 1 - Panels A to D). CHOLINE IMPACTS CALF HEALTH AND GROWTH While health and milk production benefits alone solidify choline as a valuable nutrient for transition cows, new research shows additional benefits for calves when dams receive rumen protected choline during the transition period. Calves exposed to choline in utero or fed colostrum from cows fed choline are healthier, eat more dry matter and grow faster than calves not exposed to choline (Zenobi , et al. J Dairy Sci. 101:1088-1110 (2018)) (Table 1). These beneficial effects highlight choline’s role as a source for labile methyl groups, playing an important role in DNA methylation and nutrigenomics during the critical periods of gestation. CHOLINE IS REQUIRED Research demonstrates choline’s essentiality for growth, development and good health for animals and humans. Choline is a biochemical building block and precursor to numerous compounds involved in supporting life. For dairy cattle, choline serves many roles and is essential for health and productivity. Decades of research shows that supplementing with rumen-protected choline can increase milk production, reduce the incidence of transition metabolic disorders and improve growth and survivability of calves born to cows supplemented with choline. All of these improvements are economically important to dairy producers and solidifies the fact that choline is not an optional nutrient for dairy cows, but that it is required. References 1. Arshad, U., M. G. Zenobi, C. R. Staples, and J. E. P. Santos. 2020. Meta-analysis of the Table 1: In utero effect of prepartum feeding ReaShure ® precision release choline to dams on growth of their heifer calves *Effect of ReaShure, P<0.10. ** Effect of ReaShure, P<0.05. Control 40,4 76,7 322,2 534,0 ReaShure 38,3* 77,6 335,3** 570,0** Age Birth, kg 2 months (weaning), kg 12 months, kg Post -calving, kg 36 kg heavier at 1st calving
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