Evaluation of an herbal choline feed plant additive in lamb feedlot rations

ABSTRACT An experiment was carried out to evaluate the effect of an herbal choline feed plant additive on the productive parameters and blood metabolites of finishing lambs. Forty male Hampshire × Suffolk lambs (initial body weight of 30.36±3.75 kg) were assigned according to a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of dietary inclusion of the herbal additive BioCholine at 0, 3, 6, and 9 g/kg dry matter for 56 days. A linear response for herbal choline dose was observed for daily gain, final body weight, feed conversion, blood glucose, and blood phosphatidylcholine as herbal choline level was increased in the diet. Total protein, globulins, and low-density lipoproteins showed a quadratic effect, and there were no effects on intake, Longissimus dorsi area, back fat, blood cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoproteins, or albumins. The inclusion of the herbal choline feed plant additive improved daily gain and feed efficiency of finishing lambs. The choline feed plant additive is a source that can be used to meet choline requirements in small ruminants, as demonstrated by blood phosphatidylcholine and lamb performance.

摘要 本实验旨在评估草本胆碱饲料植物添加剂对育肥羔羊生产性能参数及血液代谢物的影响。选取40只汉普夏×萨福克（Hampshire × Suffolk）杂交公羔，初始体重为30.36±3.75 kg，采用完全随机试验设计进行分组。试验组日粮中添加草本添加剂BioCholine，添加梯度分别为0、3、6、9 g/kg干物质，试验周期为56天。结果显示，随着日粮中草本胆碱添加水平升高，日增重、终末体重、饲料转化率、血糖及血液磷脂酰胆碱（phosphatidylcholine）均呈现线性响应。总蛋白、球蛋白及低密度脂蛋白（low-density lipoproteins）呈现二次效应；而采食量、背最长肌面积、背膘厚度、血液胆固醇、甘油三酯、高密度脂蛋白（high-density lipoproteins）及白蛋白未受显著影响。添加该草本胆碱饲料植物添加剂可提升育肥羔羊的日增重与饲料利用效率。血液磷脂酰胆碱水平及羔羊生产性能均证实，该草本胆碱饲料添加剂可作为满足小反刍动物胆碱需求的有效原料。