the influence of rumen-protected choline and α-tocopherol supplementation on early lactating dairy cows metabolism

It is well documented that choline is known as one of the essential ingredients of phospholipids. choline acts as a determinative element for appropriate cell membrane functions. on the other hand α-tocopherol (vit e) is a fatsoluble vitamin. this vitamin acts as a strong antioxidant in the living body’s defense system against oxidative stress. lipid peroxidation in peripartum and early lactating cows is significantly increased while the level of serum vit e is decreases dramatically. these concomitant physiological changes demonstrate a higher level of oxidative stress subsequently leads to serious health issues in dairy cows. therefore, the present research was designed to investigate the following items in dairy cattle: 1) evaluation of the possible changes in serum protein fractions, and 2) comparing the oxidative status of orally rpc and vitamin e supplementation in dairy cows in early lactation period. in the current study 30 early lactating primiparous and multiparous holstein cows (body condition score (bcs)=2.51 ± 0.10) were used beginning five weeks postpartum. all the animals were randomly divided in to three groups (n=10) (number of lactation=2.61). the animals were randomly assigned to receive one of the following treatments. group 1 served as control group were not received any supplement. the second group was supplemented with 90 g/d of rpc (reashre choline, balchem, usa). the third group was administrated 4400 iu/d vitamin e (roche, vitamins ltd; switzerland). in the current study, serum protein electrophoresis showed four main fractions as follows: albumin, α-globulin, β-globulin, and γglobulin.  the recorded data showed that the percentages of albumin and γ-globulin fractions were higher in treated groups compared to the control group. in the animals supplementing with rpc and vitamin e the percentages of serum albumin increased to the value of 37. 70±1.63 and 38.21±1.28 respectively compare to the control group (34.69±1.21), which were significant (p<0.05).