Milk choline secretion as an indirect indicator of postruminal choline supply

The objectives of this study were to evaluate milk choline as an indicator of choline absorption and to use milk choline to evaluate the efficacy of a rumen-protected choline supplement. In a preliminary 4-wk experiment, two Holstein cows in early lactation were abomasally infused with either 0 or 60 g/d of choline chloride in 2 L of water, which was used as a carrier. Choline infusion increased milk choline secretion from 1.95 to 3.95 g/d during the 2-wk choline infusion period. In Experiment 2, four Holstein cows in early lactation were abomasally infused with 0, 25, 50, and 75 g/d of choline chloride in 2 L of water using a 4 x 4 Latin square design with 1-wk experimental periods. Milk choline secretion was 2.56, 3.62, 3.72, and 3.82 g/d for the respective choline treatments. In Experiment 3, 10 Holstein cows in midlactation were fed either 0 or 50 g/d of choline using an experimental rumen-protected choline supplement during a 2-wk experiment. Milk choline secretion was increased from 2.12 to 2.99 g/d with the supplemental choline. Results of these experiments demonstrated that milk choline is responsive to postruminal choline supply and can be used as a qualitative indicator of choline absorption.