Choline for dairy cows

To maximize profitability in dairy farming, it is important to understand the different stages in the life cycle of a bovine and provide special attention during the stages which have the highest influence on productivity and return on investment. The 50-day transition period (20-day close up period and 30-day fresh animal period) is a critical stage, which can form the foundation for a successful and highly profitable lactation.

Special care and specific nutritional program during the 50-day period can ensure the following benefits:

a) Optimum metabolic health of the animal

b) Maximum peak milk production after calving

c) Timely conception for next calving

To be able to maximize milk production during the entire lactation period, it is essential to optimize the metabolic health of the animal and help her to reach her maximum milk production level after calving. Understanding and addressing the challenges which arise during this period is critical to maximizing production and profit.

Increase in liver activity: During 20 days before calving, the dry matter intake reduces 30-35% as compared to normal, owing to stress. To cater to the energy requirement for the development of the fetus, the animal starts mobilizing fat, two weeks prior to calving. During the 50-day period, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) mobilization from the body increases to around 300%. Fat mobilized by the body reaches the liver for utilization for energy production. The increase in the amount of NEFA reaching the liver results in a significant increase in liver activity. During the 50-day period, the metabolic activities in the liver are almost doubled as compared to normal.

Underutilization of depleted body fat: Fat utilization in the liver is facilitated by a liver substance known as carnitine. Synthesis of carnitine is dependent on the intake of nutrients. Reduction in feed intake and a consequent fall in nutrient supply during the 50-day period result in sub-optimum synthesis of carnitine and underutilization of depleted fat.

Fat accumulation in the liver: Unutilized fat may get deposited in the liver. Even a small amount of fat accumulated in the liver can result in a decrease in metabolic activities in the liver and hamper the overall energy metabolism during early lactation. Fat accumulation in the liver may also give rise to a variety of health issues such as fatty liver and ketosis. Hence, it is critical to ensure that the depleted body fat is completely utilized for energy production and does not get deposited in the liver.

Fat stored in the liver around the calving period affects ureagenesis and also reduces the conversion of propionate to glucose.

Issues with liver functioning: The liver plays an important role in converting ammonia to urea. Accumulation of fat in the liver reduces the ability of the liver to detoxify ammonia into urea (Strang et al., 1998). A graphical presentation (figure 1) is shown to depict triglyceride accumulation (increases) in the liver and (decline) ureagenesis.  

Figure 1: Inverse relationship between triglycerides accumulation and ureagenesis 

Decreased capacity for glucose synthesis: Conversion of glucose to lactose (milk sugar) is the primary driver for milk volume. Glucose conversion is also essential for several metabolic functions. The liver generates glucose from propionate and amino acids. An increase in fat content in the liver reduces the capacity of the liver for carrying out glucose synthesis. Research studies show that fat accumulation in the liver can result in the inhibition of glucose synthesis from propionate. The mechanism perhaps is modulated by ammonia supply to the liver. Decrease in the capacity of the liver for glucose synthesis can hamper milk production (Overton et al., 1999).

Economic losses due to unutilized NEFA 

Depleted body fat that remains unutilized and accumulates in the liver is a major challenge that results in significant economic losses.

Effective management of NEFA during the 50-day transition period is necessary to maintain liver health and also facilitate better fat utilization for milk production. Choline, a water-soluble nutrient, plays a vital role in executing two key strategies for managing NEFA.  

NEFA can be managed by optimizing the capacity of the liver to dispose of excess NEFA by exporting it back to the bloodstream in the form of very low density lipoproteins (VLDL). In this process, the body uses VLDL for availing more usable energy for various body functions, and health of the liver is maintained. For the formation of VLDL, the liver requires phospholipids, which are synthesized from choline.  Choline supports phospholipids synthesis and thus helps in VLDL formation.

Strategy 2: Improving fat metabolism

Fat metabolism can be improved with the help of choline for better energy production. This also helps in improving milk production.

Evidence from metabolic incubations conducted with liver slices in vitro indicated (Drackley et al., 1991) that the use of NEFA for ATP is sensitive to carnitine supply. Carnitine is a quasi-vitamin required for the transport of NEFA into mitochondria where fatty acids undergo β-oxidation process. Choline acts as a methyl donor and helps in the synthesis of carnitine through various biochemical processes.  

Research conducted by various scientists showed that the addition of carnitine to bovine liver slice incubations increased the rate of palmitate oxidation, and infusing carnitine into the abomasum of lactating dairy cows numerically decreased plasma NEFA concentration. Therefore, choline indirectly may act to reduce the accumulation of fat on liver by providing carnitine to enhance hepatic fatty acid oxidation.

Supplementing choline in an unprotected form results in the degradation of choline up to 98% in the rumen. To utilize the potential of choline, it is essential to protect it from rumen degradation. Increasing the post ruminal supply of choline by infusion of choline into the abomasum increases milk production and milk fat yield as shown in Table 1(Erdman and Sharma, 1991).

Optimize metabolic health: Choline helps in reducing incidences of fatty liver and ketosis and thus improves the peak milk yield in fresh dairy animals.

Decrease in fat accumulation in the liver: It has been found that triglyceride concentration in the liver decreased linearly and concentration of glycogen in liver increased linearly with choline supplementation during the 50-day period.

Increase in milk production: Supplementation of rumen-protected choline results in an improvement in milk production, suggesting that this substance may be a limiting nutrient in dairy animals during the 50-day transition period.

In one research trial, conducted with 45 g/day of rumen-protected choline, there was an increased milk yield and 3.5% fat corrected milk yield during the first 30 days of lactation. These effects were probably due to choline, which acts as a methyl donor in dairy cow metabolism, as observed in other studies during early lactation (Erdman and Sharma, 1991; Hartwell et al., 2000).

To protect choline from rumen degradation, Kemin manufactures encapsulated choline known as CholiPEARL^TM, which contains rumen-protected and intestinally-released choline. CholiPEARL is manufactured in Italy using a unique spray freezing technology. Spray freezing technology is unique because of the use of specific atomizer nozzles, liquid nitrogen and specific matrix to nutrient composition.

The key benefits of using Spray Freezing Technology for CholiPEARL are as follows:

CholiPEARL research trial

A research trial was conducted on CholiPEARL in the University of Tehran, Iran. Fifty-four Holstein cows in their early lactation phase were fed CholiPEARL for 40 days (10 days for adaptation, 30 days for data collection). Two treatments groups with 27 cows in each group were kept to compare the effects of CholiPEARL. Cows in first group were fed a total mixed ration (TMR) with 100 gram CholiPEARL /head/day as mixed to diet and cows in second group were fed the same TMR without choline (control). Cows were fed ad libitum (10% refusal from previous day) and milked three times daily. Milk production of cows was recorded on a daily basis.

In the CholiPEARL-fed group, milk production increased by 1.35 kg milk/cow/day. The CholiPEARL-fed group registered a yield of 32.98 kg milk/cow/day whereas in the control group, milk production was 31.63/cow/day. It was concluded that CholiPEARL (a superior rumen protected choline) has the potential to improve milk production in early lactating cows (Banadaky et al., 2007).

Key benefits of CholiPEARL 

CholiPEARL needs to be supplemented at the rate of 50-100 gram per day to dairy cows and buffaloes during the 50-day transition period.

CholiPEARL helps in reducing liver stress and thereby maximize peak milk production. Supplementing CholiPEARL for the 50-day transition period is the key driver of profitability in commercial dairy farming.

Certain statements may not be applicable in all geographic regions.  Product labeling and associated claims may differ based upon regulatory requirements.  © Kemin Industries, Inc. and its group of companies 2011 All rights reserved. ® TM Trademarks of Kemin Industries, Inc., U.S.A.