Effect of Choline Chloride Supplementations on Productive Performance of Ettawa Crossbred Goats

Abstract

We evaluated the effect of supplementation with choline chloride through forced drinking technique on productive performance of Ettawa Crossbred (EC) does. Choline chloride is an essential component in ruminant diet required for fat metabolism and a methyl group donor for the formation of methionine. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with three treatments (T0, T1 and T2) and eight replications. The trial had two successive experimental periods: during the last eight weeks of gestation and the rst 12 weeks of lactation. The treatments were: T0–control, T1-supplemented with 4 g choline chloride/head/2days, and T2-supplemented with 8 g choline chloride/head/2days. Choline chloride was given to the animals through force drinking technique, after dissolving it in 60 ml drinking water. The initial body weight of does were 38.81 ± 3.66 kg. The does were penned individually, and given fresh chopped King Grass (3 to 4 kg/head/day) and concentrate (700 g/head/d) during feeding trials. Water is available ad libitum through nipple. Variables of productive performance observed were DMI, ADG, FCR and productivity of does at kidding. Results showed that supplementations of choline chloride had no signi cant effects on the DMI, ADG and FCR during the late gestation. However, supplementations of choline chloride at both levels signi cantly increased the DMI (P<0.017) and ADG (P<0.003) during the lactation. There was no difference between choline chloride levels. The productivity of does at kiddings (number of kids, an average of birth weight, total birth weight and litter size) were not affected by treatments. In conclusion, supplementations of choline chloride through forced drinking technique increased the DMI and ADG during the lactation period of EC does.