Recommendation of Choline Inclusion in Lambs’ Diet

Abstract

Objective: To establish an inclusion recommendation for choline (herbal or synthetic) in fattening lambs’diet based on productive performance and blood metabolites.Design/Methodology/Approach: A literature review was carried out of herbal and synthetic choline supplementation in the diet of fattening lambs.Results: The addition of protected choline chloride (50% purity) in the lamb’s diet should be less than 2.5g/kg DM in order not to cause a detrimental effect on the productive performance. On the other hand, the inclusion of herbal choline in lambs’ diet should be greater than 6 g/kg DM to have positive effects on body gain and feed conversion.Study Limitations/Implications: It is necessary to establish the requirement for choline in fattening lambs because studies where choline is supplemented show that the contribution of conventional ingredients is insufficient.Findings/Conclusions: The inclusion of herbal (6 g/kg DM) and synthetic (2.5 g/kg DM) choline in lambs’ diet improves body weight gain and modifies energy metabolites

Supplementation of graded levels of rumen-protected choline to a pelleted total mixed ration did not improve the growth and slaughter performance of fattening lambs

“…As observed in the study by Li et al ( 7 ), the supplementation of RPC had little effect on blood lipids, except the LDL concentration increased with higher RPC levels. The increase in LDL concentration with high levels of RPC may be due to the synthesis of phosphatidylcholine, which is enhanced by the supply of choline ( 36 , 38 ). The effects of adding choline to the diet on serum triglycerides have been inconsistent ( 7 , 26 , 37 ).…”