Influence of Choline Supplementation on Yolk Trimethylamine Concentration, Egg Quality and Serum Biochemical Profile in Khaki Campbell Ducks

Abstract

The study was conducted to examine the effect of choline (choline chloride) on yolk trimethylamine (TMA) concentration, egg quality and serum biochemical parameters in Khaki Campbell ducks. Ninety layer ducks (42 weeks of gae) were randomly distributed into three treatments with three replicates in each group
having 10 birds each. The treatments consisted of two levels of TMA precursor in the form of choline viz., 3 g/kg diet (T1), 6 g/kg diet (T2) and a control diet (T0) without choline. The birds were fed with the experimental diets for a period of 90 days. The feed intake, feed conversion ratio and egg quality traits were similar in all the three treatments. The yolk TMA concentration was higher (P<0.01) in treatment T3 followed by T2 and control group. Supplementation of choline had no significant effect on the serum biochemical profile except for serum lipid profile of the birds. The levels of serum total cholesterol, HDL and LDL were lower (P<0.01) in treatment T3 followed by T2 and control group. It was concluded that the presence of TMA precursors in the form of choline chloride in the diet of ducks had no effect on egg quality, reduced serum total cholesterol and liver enzyme activity and increased concentration of yolk TMA in the eggs.