Effect of protected choline on productive performance and ruminal microbiome of growing lambs
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.56926/repia.v5i1.129Keywords:
bypass B-complex, ruminal fermentation, nutraceuticalAbstract
Choline is an essential nutrient for ruminants and is involved in key metabolic functions. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of rumen-protected choline (RPC) supplementation on productive performance and the ruminal microbiome in lambs. Three male lambs (16 ± 0.45 kg BW) were assigned to a 3 × 3 Latin square design with two replicates. Each experimental period lasted 14 days. Animals were fed a basal diet formulated to supply 1.15 Mcal of net energy for gain (NEg) per kg of dry matter and 15% crude protein. Average daily gain (ADG), dry matter intake (DMI), feed conversion ratio (FCR), ruminal pH, ruminal ammonia nitrogen (NH₃-N), and bacterial concentration were evaluated. Supplementation with RPC increased ADG in a treatment-dependent manner and improved FCR without affecting DMI (p ≤ 0.05). No significant changes in ruminal pH or bacterial populations were observed (p > 0.05), with both remaining within optimal physiological ranges, suggesting that RPC enhances productive performance without compromising ruminal fermentation.
Keywords: bypass B-complex; ruminal fermentation; nutraceutical; ruminant nutrition
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Copyright (c) 2026 Alejandro Ley de Coss, Reynerio A. A. Bran, Oziel D. Montañez Valdez, Beatriz Zambrano Castillo, Cándido E. Guerra Medina, Fátima de C. Velasco Fernández, Alondra K. Gamboa López
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