Evaluation of two sources of choline on reproductive variables in primiparous ewes

Objective: Evaluate the reproductive response of primal ewes supplemented with herbal choline and synthetic choline during an estrus synchronization protocol. Design/methodology/approach: 92 primals ewes were used of 15-month-old, with initial body weight of 50 ± 1.25 kg. The ewes were distributed randomly in three treatments: T1 (basic diet without choline), T2 (basic diet + 4 g of herbal choline) and T3 (basic diet + 4 g of protected choline). Results: There were no differences between treatments for: presentation and onset of estrus, the pregnancy rate, prolificacy, type of birth and insulin concentration (P>0.05). While the progesterone concentration decreased (P≤0.05) with the addition of herbal choline to the diet. Study limitations/implications: The dietary addition of herbal or synthetic choline (4 g d-1) did not improve reproductive variables, because the level of supplementation was low or the animal synthesizes/consume a sufficient amount of choline for its metabolic functions. Findings/conclusions: The inclusion of herbal choline or synthetic choline during synchronized estrus does not modify the reproductive variables in primal ewes, while progesterone concentrations were modified due to herbal choline supplementation.