Rumen-protected choline and vitamin E supplementation in periparturient dairy goats: effects on milk production and folate, vitamin B12 and vitamin E status

Abstract

We investigated the effects of rumen-protected choline (RPC) and vitamin E (VITE) administration on milk production and status of folate, vitamin B 12 and vitamin E during the periparturient period of dairy goats. Forty-eight Saanen multiparous goats were selected for the 72-day experiment, being moved to a maternity pen 30 days before expected parturition and assigned to one of the four experimental groups: control (CTR), no choline or vitamin E supplementation; choline (RPC), supplemented with 4 g/day choline chloride in rumen-protected form; vitamin E (VITE), supplemented with 200 IU/day vitamin E in rumen-protected form; and choline and vitamin E (RPCE), supplemented with 4 g/day RPC chloride and 200 IU/day vitamin E. Supplements were administered individually before the morning feed to ensure complete consumption, starting 30 days before kidding and continuing for 35 days after. During the experiment, milk yield and 4% fat-corrected milk (FCM) yield were, respectively, 210 and 350 g/day higher in RPC-supplemented goats than in non-supplemented goats. Milk fat concentration and fat yield were also increased by RPC treatment. Milk yield and composition were unaffected by vitamin E supplementation. There were no significant interactions between RPC and VITE for any of the variables measured. Plasma metabolites did not differ between treatments before and after kidding except that plasma folate at parturition was higher in RPC-supplemented goats. Neither choline nor vitamin E affected vitamin B 12 plasma concentrations, while a time effect was evident after the second week of lactation, when B 12 levels in each treatment group started to increase. Vitamin E administration resulted in plasma a-tocopherol levels that were 2 to 2.5 times higher than in non-supplemented goats. Overall, these results suggest that greater choline availability can improve milk production and methyl group metabolism in transition dairy goats.

Trend analysis of plasma insulin level around parturition in relation to parity in Saanen goats1

“…Plasma glucose levels are consistent to those observed by Pinotti et al (2008), who analyzed the plasma of multiparous periparturient Saanen goats collected before the first meal of the day, as we did. Similar values were also observed in preprandial plasma of primiparous goats of different breeds during the first week after parturition (Anwar et al, 2012).…”

“…Plasma NEFA levels are consistent to those observed by Pinotti et al (2008) in multiparous periparturient Saanen goats. At parturition, plasma NEFA concentration greatly increased in multiparous goats.…”

The role of micronutrients in high-yielding dairy ruminants: Choline and vitamin E

“…Choline supplementation increases productivity as well as metabolic health in dairy ruminants (2,29,32). Choline is often considered as a vitamin however, unlike classical vitamins, its endogenous synthesis is possible, and a choline deficiency syndrome usually goes undetected in healthy mammals.…”

Effect of adding different levels of rumen protected choline to the diet on productive and reproductive performance of female goats and growth of their kids from birthing to weaning

“…Feedstuffs for animals contain free choline and phosphatidylcholine but these compounds in plants are relatively small and also dietary choline in feed stuffs is rapidly and extensively degraded by microbial populations in the rumen and intestinal supply is not enough to meet tissue requirements (Sharma & Erdman 1989). In periparturient dairy goats, Pinotti et al (2008) suggested that greater choline availability can improve milk production. RPC is becoming available as a commercial product and has proven beneficial to animals (Overton & Waldron 2004).…”

“…RPC products have been fed to pre-parturient dairy cows to increase the supply of choline to the small intestine with the goal of increasing milk or component yields or alleviating the development of fatty liver syndrome (Piepenbrink & Overron 2003). In periparturient dairy goats, Pinotti et al (2008) suggested that greater choline availability can improve milk production. The authors found that milk yield and 4% fat-corrected milk yield were, respectively, 210 and 350 g/day higher in RPC-supplemented goats than in non-supplemented goats.…”