LECITHIN AS A SUPPLEMENT FOR MID-LACTATINg DAIRy COwS

1 Dept of Medicine Animal, Production and Health Padova Univ., Agripolis, Viale dell’Università, 16, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy 2 Istituto Zooprofilattico delle Venezie, Viale dell’Università, 10, 35020 Legnaro (PD), Italy ABSTRACT The study aimed at evaluating the effect of a daily dose of 14 g of choline administrated by using soy lecithins (LC group), a by-product of the biodiesel production process, compared to a daily dose of 25 g of choline chloride microencapsulated with hydrogenated vegetable oils (RPC group) on performance and milk quality of dairy cows. A total of 12 mid-lactating Holstein Friesian cows were assigned to one of two experimental groups and fed according to a cross-over design (2 diets × 2 periods) one of the two isoenergetic, isofibrous and isonitrogenous diets, characterized by LC or RPC choline supplement. Dry matter intake, milk yield and the 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM) were not affected by the diet. No differences were observed in the hematological profile or milk composition, with the exception of NEFA and milk fat, which resulted significantly higher and lower (P < 0.10) in LC-fed cows, respectively. Summarizing, results indicated that soy lecithins can be used as an available source of choline in mid lactating dairy cows, even at a daily dose lower than that required when using RPC.