Cholivite Plus
Barbican Cholivite Plus is a powder containing high concentrations of choline, methionine, inactivated yeast and vitamin E formulated to:
- Prevent metabolic and immune problems associated with over-conditioning.
- Support periparturient cows that are suffering from immune dysfunction and increased oxidative stress.
What is it for?
The transition from late pregnancy to lactation is associated with profound changes in metabolic and endocrinological activity and increases in damaging oxidative stress and immune dysfunction due to the nutritional demands of lactation. This often leads to negative health outcomes for the cow with 75% of disease incidence occurring in the first month of lactation (LeBlanc et al., 2006).
Cholivite Plus is formulated to:
- Reduce the risk of metabolic and immune dysfunction if supplemented pre calving
- Support those already suffering from these challenges if supplemented post calving.
What does Cholivite Plus do?
- Enhances liver function
The lactational demands for energy promote fat mobilization which are transported mainly to the liver as Non-Esterified Fatty Acids (NEFAs). Fat that is not used as an energy source is exported from the liver as Very Low Density Lipoproteins (VLDLs) but this capacity is limited meaning fat is stored in the parenchyma in excessive amounts, a condition commonly known as ‘fatty liver’ disease.
Cholivite Plus provides choline and methionine which are precursors for VLDLs to increase hepatic fat export and components that encourage appetite.
- Enhances immunity
Increased fat mobilization and fatty liver increase the secretion of proinflammatory cytokines such as Tumour Necrosis Factor α (TNF) which interferes with insulin dependent decreases in lipase activity. This means that fat mobilization is not appropriately ‘shut off’. TNF also suppresses appetite at a time when cows need to satisfy their increased their energy, protein, mineral and vitamin requirements. These changes cause a dysfunctional immunity which lasts for several weeks after calving (Kehrli, 1989, Goff and Horst, 1997).
Increased metabolic activity increases oxidative stress with several studies linking oxidative stress to an increase susceptibility of disease (Bernabucci et al., 2005; Castillo et al., 2005, 2006; Sordillo and Aitken, 2009).
Cholivite Plus enhances immunity by improving liver function and supplying high levels of the antioxidant vitamin E.
- Improves appetite
Several studies have shown a consistent link between the feeding of choline and increased feed intakes. Yeast is also an appetite stimulant.
- Improves yield
Both methionine, an essential amino acid, and choline are consistently associated with increases in milk yield.
How to use Cholivite Plus
Prevention
In the face of high-risk cows (see table below) calving Cholivite Plus can be supplemented pre calving in feed or drenched either on a group or individual basis if management allows. Ideally this should occur at least 5 days prior to calving.
Support
Cows suffering from any periparturient disease will have increased oxidative stress and are likely to be immune compromised. Cholivite Plus can be used to supplement cows that are being treated with antibiotics or energy precursors for conditions such as ketosis, displaced abomasums, metritis, toxic mastitis or general inappetence to improve their metabolic and immune status.
- 1st February 2023
