Vegetable choline as a replacement for choline chloride in broiler feed

ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to determine choline chloride replacement effects by a vegetable choline source, compost by Trachyspermum amni, Citrullus colocynthis, Achyranthus aspera, and Azadirachta indica in broiler feed. These compounds are fonts of phosphatidylcholine, a high-disponible molecule for intestinal absorption and choline supply. A total of 640 animals were randomly allocated in a completely randomized design, with four treatments and eight repetitions (n = 20), and zootechnical performance (body weight, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and productive efficiency index), carcass yield, cuts yield, and organs (heart, liver, proventriculus, gizzard, and small intestine) relative weights were evaluated. Were evaluated two choline chloride levels (600 and 800 mg kg-1) and two vegetable choline levels (100 and 200 mg kg-1), added in a corn-soybean meal basal diet, during 42 days of raising. Results revealed better feed conversion ratio (p < 0.001) and production efficiency index (p < 0.001) in broilers fed vegetable choline, with no differences on body weight (p = 0.372) and weight gain (p = 0.427) among broilers. Carcass, cuts yield, and organ relative weights do not alter (p > 0.05) due to different group of supplementations. Findings in this trial concludes vegetable choline can adequately replace choline chloride in broiler feed, with improvement on performance and no compromising carcass, cuts or organ development.

摘要：本研究旨在探究以阿米芹（Trachyspermum amni）、药西瓜（Citrullus colocynthis）、粗毛牛膝（Achyranthus aspera）和印楝（Azadirachta indica）为原料制备的植物胆碱源，替代氯化胆碱在肉鸡饲料中的应用效果。此类物质均为磷脂酰胆碱（phosphatidylcholine）的优质来源，该组分肠道吸收率高、胆碱供给效能优异。
本试验共选取640只肉鸡，采用完全随机试验设计，设置4个处理组，每组8个重复（每个重复20只肉鸡）。试验基础日粮为玉米-豆粕型基础日粮，分别添加2个梯度的氯化胆碱（600与800 mg·kg⁻¹）及2个梯度的植物胆碱（100与200 mg·kg⁻¹），试验周期为42天。测定指标涵盖动物生产性能（体重、增重、饲料转化率及生产效率指数）、屠宰率、分割肉得率，以及心脏、肝脏、腺胃、肌胃与小肠等器官的相对重量。
试验结果表明，饲喂植物胆碱的肉鸡饲料转化率（p < 0.001）与生产效率指数（p < 0.001）均显著优于对照组，而各组肉鸡的体重（p = 0.372）与增重（p = 0.427）无显著差异。不同添加组的屠宰率、分割肉得率及器官相对重量均无显著变化（p > 0.05）。
本试验最终得出结论：植物胆碱可完全替代肉鸡饲料中的氯化胆碱，不仅能够改善肉鸡生产性能，且对屠宰性能、分割肉产出及器官发育无不良影响。