Effect of dietary choline on volatile fatty acids in rumen liquid of sheep and rumen dry matter degradability of untreated and ammonia-treated wheat straw.

Three rumen fistulated wethers consumed a roughage (1200 g artificially dried grass) or a concentrate/roughage diet (600 g concentrate, 400 g dried grass per animal and day). The diets were unsupplemented or 0.5, 1 or 2 g choline per animal and day were added. After a 14-day feeding period, samples of rumen liquid were taken 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 h after morning feeding. In a second experiment, untreated and ammonia-treated wheat straw were incubated in nylon bags for 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h in rumen of 5 sheep fed on 1.2 kg dried grass and without or with 1 g choline per day. Choline supplementation decreased the total concentration of volatile fatty acids in rumen liquid in both types of diet (roughage: 106, 83, 89 and 87; concentrate/roughage: 142, 114, 91 and 106 mmol/l for 0, 0.5, 1 and 2 g choline per day resp.). Concentration of acetate and branched chain fatty acids in both diets and butyrate in concentrate/roughage diet was reduced as total acids. Butyrate in roughage diet was increased by added choline. Molar propionate concentration was not significantly influenced by choline (P greater than 0.05). Choline resulted in a little increase (P greater than 0.05) of dry matter degradability in rumen, especially when NH3-treated straw was incubated. The effect of choline on milk fat production of cows fed with diets rich in concentrate is probably not related to changes in rumen fermentation and digestion.