The Choline Requirement of the Baby Pig

Abstract

On a “synthetic milk” ration containing approximately 0.8% methionine (30% casein) the baby pig requires 0.1% choline in its diet. It appears that in the young pig, as in the chick, the ability of methionine to supply methyl groups for the synthesis of choline from aminoethanol may be limited. The methionine requirement of the baby pig must be established before this can be determined. When the food intake is equalized choline does not have a growth stimulating effect. Choline deficiency in these baby pigs resulted in gross symptoms of unthriftiness, poor conformation (short-legged and pot-bellied), lack of coordination in movements and a characteristic lack of proper rigidity in the joints, particularly the shoulders. The pigs also showed typical fatty infiltration of the livers and characteristic renal glomerular occlusion and some tubular epithelial necrosis.