Liver metabolism and production of cows fed increasing amounts of rumen-protected choline during the periparturient period

Forty-eight multiparous Holstein cows were fed treatments consisting of either 0, 45, 60, or 75 g/d of a rumen-protected choline (RPC) source in a completely randomized design from 21 d before expected calving to 63 d postpartum to determine whether choline supplementation to the diet would affect hepatic fatty acid and glucose metabolism, key metabolites in plasma, and cow performance. Dry matter intake (DMI), milk yield, body condition score, and body weights (BW) were similar for cows receiving the four treatments. Feeding RPC tended to increase yields of milk fat, 3.5% fat-corrected milk, and total solids. Plasma concentrations of nonesterified fatty acids and beta-hydroxybutyrate were not different among cows fed the four treatments. Concentrations of triglycerides in liver were similar, but concentrations of glycogen in liver increased as cows consumed increasing amounts of RPC. Hepatic capacity for storage of [1-14C]palmitate as esterified products within liver slices tended to decrease as the amount of RPC consumed by cows increased; however, effects of treatment on hepatic capacity for oxidation of [1-14C]palmitate to CO2 were not significant. These data imply that choline may increase the rate of very low density lipoprotein synthesis and secretion of esterified lipid products from liver. Hepatic capacities for conversion of [1-14C] propionate to CO2 and to glucose in liver were similar among cows fed the four treatments. Collectively, these results suggest that hepatic fatty acid metabolism and cow performance are responsive to increasing the supply of choline during the periparturient period.