Metabolism in periparturient dairy cows fed rumen-protected choline

We evaluated daily supplementation with rumen-protected choline (RPC) for 45 days on the metabolism of transition dairy cows, assigning 15 cows to either control (no RPC but 1000 IU vitamin E) or treatment (50 g RPC plus 1000 IU vitamin E). On day 20 of lactation, treatment significantly increased plasma cholesterol, folate and a-tocopherol and lowered NEFA, with a tendency for increased glucose and choline phospholipids, and reduced P-hydroxybutyrate. These differences indicate improved lipid and methyl group metabolisms. Milk production tended to be increased. RPC supplementation seems useful for optimizing the metabolic profile of transition dairy cows.