Irshad, N.Firincioglu, S. Yaman2024-11-072024-11-0720221792-2720https://doi.org/10.12681/jhvms.26914https://hdl.handle.net/11480/13952Recent studies designate feed additives, such as rumen-protected choline (RPC), fortified health and in-creased milk yield in ruminants. Choline is an endogenous compound, its deficiency leads to negative implications on the physiology and productivity of ruminants. Endogenous synthesis through the phosphatidylethanolamine N-methyl-transferase (PEMT) pathway constitutes an unstable source of choline. Choline assimilation is affected by administered dose, lactation stage, and basal diet composition. High occurrence of fatty liver disease during lactation and especially in the periparturient period is observed in dairy cows and to alleviate such incident, high supply of choline is neces-sary. This supply is known to decrease the chances of hepatic fatty infiltration and upregulate the expression of genes involved in the transport of VLDL (very low-density lipoprotein). RPC is usually provided as choline chloride and is contained inside a shield of the fatty acid matrix. Therefore, choline contribution into important mechanisms, via metabolite of betaine is ensured by its provision in a rumen-protected form in the ration of dairy cows. These important mechanisms are sparing of a methyl group (-CH3), supporting of animal metabolism and remethylation of homocys-teine. It is noteworthy that rumen-protected choline positively affects the milk yield of animals during the lactation period especially when supplementation started before calving and continues throughout the early lactation. But the discrepancy of commercial products of rumen-protected choline regarding their degradability in the rumen and choline content is one of the big problems yet to be resolved.eninfo:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessDairy cattlecholineruminantslactationmethionineReview Article7323921392810.12681/jhvms.269142-s2.0-85134377364Q3WOS:000825157800003Q4