Effects of Feeding Rumen Protected Choline and Vitamin E on Milk Yield, Milk Composition, Dry Matter Intake, Body Condition Score and Body Weight in Early Lactating Dairy Cows

Abstract

Twenty four primiparous and multiparous Holstein cows on early lactation, beginning five weeks postpartum, were used for four weeks to investigate the effects of supplemention of rumen-protected choline (RPC) or vitamin E on milk yield, milk composition, dry matter intake, body condition score and body weight. The cows were randomly assigned to one of the following treatments: I)no supplement (control), II)90 g/d of RPC and III)4400 IU/d of vitamin E. In this study, dry matter intake, body weight, body condition score, milk yield and the contents and yields of all milk constituents, except the content of solid non fat (SNF) for RPC group, were not affected by choline or vitamin E supplementation (P>0.05). The RPC increased (P<0.05) the content of SNF compared with the control and vitamin E groups. The results showed that RPC or vitamin E supplementation into the diets of early lactating dairy cows did not affect dry matter intake, milk yield, milk composition, body condition score and body weight.