Abstract #W418

# W418
Effect of choline inclusion on lamb performance and meat characteristics.
Julio Godinez-Cruz1, Oswaldo Cifuentes-Lopez1, Jorge Cayetano1, Hector Lee-Rangel*1, German Mendoza2, Anayeli Vazquez1, Alejandro Roque1, 1Universidad Autónoma de San Luis Potosí, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, San Luis Potosi, San Luis Potosi, Mexico, 2Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana, Departamento de Producción Animal, Distrito Federal, Mexico.

The objective of this experiment was to determine the effect of rumen-protected choline (RPC Reashure; Excential RumenPass CH) and a vegetal Bio choline (Indian Herbs) on lamb performance in finishing rations. The experimental units were 24 Rambouillet lambs (23.4 ± 1.1 kg initial BW) housed in individual metabolic cages. The experiment lasted 42 d and treatments were: no choline (T1, control); 4 g/d biocholine (T2); 4 g/d RPC (T3). Lambs were assigned to one of the 3 experimental treatments according to a completely randomized design and data were analyzed using PROC MIXED with initial BW as a covariable. There were no differences (P = 0.05) on average daily gain and feed conversion; however, final BW (T1 = 32.7a, T2 = 33.9a, and T3 = 35.6b kg) and daily feed intake (T1 = 1.06a, T2 = 1.07a, and T3 = 1.22b kg) were different (P < 0.05). In carcass characteristics (cold carcass weight, hot carcass weight and rib area), only for meat color the L value were different (41.18a, 42.68b, and 42.58b to T1, T2, and T3, respectively). Therefore, addition of a choline did not change performance of finishing lambs, but could change some meat characteristics and final weight.

Key Words: lamb, choline, carcass