Abstract #M330

# M330
Influence of supplemental choline on milk yield, fatty acid profile, and postpartum weight changes in suckling ewes.
M. M. Crosby1, G. D. Mendoza-Martinez2, A. Relling*3, A. Vazquez-Valladolid4, H. A. Lee-Rangel4, J. A. Martinez2, M. Oviedo4, 1Colegio de Postgraduados, Montecillo, Texcoco, Mexico, 2Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana, Ciudad de Mexico, Mexico, 3Ohio State University, Wooster, OH, 4Universidad Autonoma de San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico.

The objectives of the study were to evaluate the effect of supplementing rumen protected choline (RPC, Reashure; Excential RumenPass, CH) and a vegetal Biocholine (Indian Herbs) on BW, milk production and fatty acids composition in suckling ewes and their lambs. The basal diet contained 34% sorghum stover, 16% whole corn grain, 11% oat grain, 14% sorghum grain, 12% soybean meal, 9% cane molasses and minerals. Rambouillet ewes (n = 24, initial BW 67.2 ± 1.7 kg), housed in individual metabolic cages from d 30 before to d 30 after parturition, were assigned to one of the experimental treatments according to a completely randomized design. Treatments were control without choline (CO), 4 g/d RPC (T1) and 4 g/d Biocholine (T2). Ewes were assigned. Ewes and lambs were weighted at d 1 (lambing) and d 30. Milk yield was measured and sampled on d 30 for milk composition and FA analysis. Data were analyzed using the PROC MIXED. There were treatment effects (P < 0.05) at lambing and at d 30 of lactation on ewe's BW (d1: CO, 60.3; T1, 63.4; T2, 77.7 ± 1.73 kg; and d 30: CO, 60.0; T1, 62.0; T2, 70.1 ± 1.77 kg), lamb birth weight (CO, 4.7b, T1, 5.7a; T2, 5.8a ± 0.08 kg) and lamb's BW at d 30 of age (CO, 11.4b; T1, 13.9a; T2, 13.6a ± 0.15 kg). Milk yield increased (P < 0.05) by effect of choline supplementation (CO, 1.02b; T1, 1.39a; T2, 1.57a ± 0.03 kg/d), as well as the oleic acid content in milk (CO, 29.4b; T1, 30.7ab; T2, 34.1a ± 1.14%). However, there were no differences (P > 0.05) on major milk components (protein, lactose, fat, non-fat solids and total milk solids). From these data, we conclude that Biocholine at this dose induced large bodyweight gain during gestation, with moderate effects on lambs’ birthweight. This point needs further investigations.

Key Words: ewe, choline, milk composition