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ABSTRACT Background Buttermilk contains a mixture of choline forms; it is high in phosphatidylcholine (PC) and sphingomyelin (SM), which could have an impact on immune system development and function. Objectives We aimed to determine the effect of feeding buttermilk-derived choline forms during pregnancy and lactation on maternal immune function. Methods Sprague Dawley dams (n = 8 per diet) were randomly assigned midway through pregnancy (10 d of gestation) to 1 of 3 experimental diets, containing 1.7 g/kg choline: control [100% free choline (FC)]; buttermilk [37% PC, 34% SM, 17% glycerophosphocholine (GPC), 7% FC, 5% phosphocholine]; or placebo (50% PC, 25% FC, 25% GPC). Dams consumed the same diet until the end of the lactation period (21 d after parturition). Cell phenotypes and cytokine production by mitogen-stimulated splenocytes were measured and compared using 1-factor ANOVA test in order to asses the effect of diet on immune fuction of lactating dams (main outcome). Results After ConA stimulation, splenocytes from dams in the buttermilk group produced more IL-2 (30%), TNF-α (30%), and IFN-γ (42%) compared with both the placebo and control diets. Placebo-fed dams had a higher proportion of CD8+ cells expressing CD152+ (22%) in spleen, and splenocytes from dams that were fed the buttermilk and the placebo diets produced about 50% and 53% more IL-10 after LPS and OVA stimulation, respectively, compared with the control group. Conclusions Feeding buttermilk-derived choline forms during pregnancy and lactation had a beneficial impact on the immune system of Sprague Dawley rat dams, especially on T-cell function.

Five steers (385 kg) fitted with permanent abomasal cannulae were used to compare Ca source (limestone or dicalcium phosphate) and corn level on site and extent of digestion. Diets contained 50, 70 or 90% corn, with corn silage and supplement to provide .70% Ca from either limestone or dicalcium phosphate. Limestone did not affect ruminal digestion, but postruminal starch and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) digestion were higher (P less than .05) for limestone compared with dicalcium phosphate, which suggests that starch utilization may be increased postruminally by a compound with buffering capacity. As a percentage of total starch intake, total tract and ruminal starch digestion increased (linear, P less than .01) while postruminal starch digestion decreased (linear, P less than .01) with corn level. Neutral detergent fiber digested in the rumen decreased (linear, P less than .01) and postruminal NDF digestion increased (linear, P less than .01) when level of corn in the diet increased. Effects of corn level were not different when organic matter and starch intake were included as covariates.

ABSTRACT'ArocIor 1254' was fed to laying pullets at 0, 0.1, 1, 10, and 100 mg per kg of diet. After 24 weeks the concentration of total polychlorinated biphenyls in body fat was 11-17 times the dietary level and the relative concentrations in body fat, liver, muscle, and whole eggs were 40, 4, 1, and 1, respectively. The concentration in body fat and in eggs was reduced to one half 14 weeks and 6 weeks respectively after withdrawal of the treated diet. Live body weights, brain, kidney, and egg weights, and eggshell thickness were unaffected. High doses generally increased liver and heart weights. Egg production and hatchability were reduced at higher doses. No signs of toxicity were observed. The use of local meat meal and fish meal in a mash is not likely to result in any significant accumulation of polychlorinated biphenyls in poultry products.