• Journal of The Korean Society of Grassland and Forage Science
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• v.28 no.3
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• pp.255-264
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• 2008

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of rumen protected choline on in vitro ruminal fermentation and milk production and its composition in Holstein cows. Experiments were done with three treatment groups, basal diet without any supplement (T1), basal diet+23g/d of mixture of choline and wheat shorts (T2) and basal diet + 25.56 g/d of rumen protected choline (T3). The in vitro ruminal pH and ammonia concentrations were similar for three treatments during all incubation periods except for the in vitro ruminal pH on 3 hr incubation and ammonia concentrations on 9 hr incubation. No significant difference was found in the concentrations of acetate and total-VFA. The propionate and butyrate concentrations were not affected by the rumen protected choline except on 6 hr incubation on which the propionate and butyrate concentrations were intermediate (8.98 mg/dl) and least (3.22 mg/dl), respectively. Higher milk yield and milk fat and lactose were resulted in the rumen protected choline. However, the rumen protected choline did not affect the milk protein, solids not fat, total solids, MUN, somatic cell count. It is concluded that the rumen protected choline can be effective materials to improve the milk production, milk fat and lactose without little change on in vitro ruminal fermentation.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.390-395
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• 2006

This work was conducted to study the effect of rumen-protected choline (RPC) addition on milk performance and blood metabolic parameters in transition dairy cows. In Experiment 1, fourteen Chinese Holstein dairy cows were supplemented with 0 or 20 g/d of RPC from 7 d before expected calving to 21 d post partum. Feeding of RPC tended to increase milk yield and milk protein percentage, while milk fat and lactose percentage were not changed. Plasma concentrations of glucose tended to increase as cows consumed RPC, while plasma concentrations of triglycerides, very low density lipoproteins, cholesterol and nonesterified fatty acids were not significantly different between the two groups. In Experiment 2, thirty-six Chinese Holstein dairy cows were supplemented with 0, 30, 60 or 90 g/d RPC from 15 d before expected calving to 15 d post partum. Feeding of RPC tended to increase yield of milk and 4% fat-corrected milk for all the lactating cows, and milk composition was similar among the four groups. Plasma concentrations of glucose were remained at a higher level in 30 or 60 g/d RPC-supplemented groups, and nonesterified fatty acids were decreased in the 30 g/d group. Concentrations of triglycerides tended to reduce in 30 and 90 g/d RPC-supplemented animals, and cholesterol was reduced in 0 or 30 g/d group. These results suggest that RPC addition tended to increase milk yield and improve blood metabolic parameters during transition dairy cows, and feeding 30 g/d of RPC may be the optimal.

• Asian-Australasian Journal of Animal Sciences
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• v.27 no.11
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• pp.1652-1662
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• 2014

The present study investigated the optimum blending condition of protected fat, choline and yeast culture for lowering of rumen temperature. The Box Benken experimental design, a fractional factorial arrangement, and response surface methodology were employed. The optimum blending condition was determined using the rumen simulated in vitro fermentation. An additive formulated on the optimum condition contained 50% of protected fat, 25% of yeast culture, 5% of choline, 7% of organic zinc, 6.5% of cinnamon, and 6.5% of stevioside. The feed additive was supplemented at a rate of 0.1% of diet (orchard grass:concentrate, 3:7) and compared with a control which had no additive. The treatment resulted in lower volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration and biogas than the control. To investigate the effect of the optimized additive and feed energy levels on rumen and rectal temperatures, four rumen cannulated Hanwoo (Korean native beef breed) steers were in a $4{\times}4$ Latin square design. Energy levels were varied to low and high by altering the ratio of forage to concentrate in diet: low energy (6:4) and high energy (4:6). The additive was added at a rate of 0.1% of the diet. The following parameters were measured; feed intake, rumen and rectal temperatures, ruminal pH and VFA concentration. This study was conducted in an environmentally controlled house with temperature set at $30^{\circ}C$ and relative humidity levels of 70%. Steers were housed individually in raised crates to facilitate collection of urine and feces. The adaptation period was for 14 days, 2 days for sampling and 7 days for resting the animals. The additive significantly reduced both rumen (p<0.01) and rectal temperatures (p<0.001) without depressed feed intake. There were interactions (p<0.01) between energy level and additive on ruminal temperature. Neither additive nor energy level had an effect on total VFA concentration. The additive however, significantly increased (p<0.01) propionate and subsequently had lower acetate:propionate (A/P) ratios than non-additive supplementation. High concentrate diets had significantly lower pH. Interactions between energy and additive were observed (p<0.01) in ammonia nitrogen production. Supplementation of diets with the additive resulted in lower rumen and rectal temperatures, hence the additive showed promise in alleviating undesirable effects of heat stress in cattle.