Effects oflysophospholipids supplementation on production performance, serum biochemistry, rumen fermentation in...

This study was designed to evaluate the effects of supplementing dairy cow diets with lysophosphatidylcholine (LPL) on production performance, serum biochemical parameters, and rumen fermentation profiles.

A total of 20 Holstein dairy cows in the early lactation stage with comparable body conditions (DIM = 73 ± 26 d; milk yield = 41 ± 10 kg; average parity = 2.6 ± 1.1) were selected and randomly assigned to two groups:the control group (CON), which received a basal diet only, and the experimental group (LPL), which was supplemented with 10 g/day of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPL) in addition to the basal diet. The experimental period lasted for 60 days. At the conclusion of the trial, samples were collected for the assessment of apparent digestibility, production performance, serum biochemical parameters, and rumen fermentation profiles.

The results demonstrated that LPL supplementation significantly increased milk yield, milk fat percentage, and milk protein concentration. It also improved the apparent digestibility of crude fat and enhanced rumen fermentation by increasing propionate and microbial crude protein levels while decreasing ammonia nitrogen concentration. Blood analysis revealed elevated levels of glucose and non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), along with reduced concentrations of triglycerides (TG) and blood urea nitrogen (BUN). Although LPL had minimal impact on overall rumen microbial diversity, it altered the relative abundance of specific bacterial species.

Dietary supplementation with 10 g/day LPL improved milk yield, milk fat percentage, milk protein percentage, and and apparent EE digestibility in lactating dairy cows. LPL also altered selected serum biochemical parameters related to glucose and lipid metabolism, while showing limited effects on overall rumen bacterial diversity and community structure.