Choline is customary classified as a vitamin. It belongs to the family of water soluble B-vitamins. It was formerly known as the vitamin B4.
Like other vitamins, it plays a significant role in nutrition, but its daily requirement seems to be hundreds of times greater than that of other vitamins.

Choline has three essential metabolic functions:

• • As a constituent of lecithin, it is important for the construction of the cellular membrane and for the transport of lipids from the liver – thus preventing fat accumulation in that organ.
• • As a precursor in the synthesis of the neurotransmitter acetylcholine, interacting in muscle control.
• • As a source of labile methyl groups, which are essential for numerous biological processes and therefore an important factor for healthy growth.

Choline is an essential component of most plant and animal cells and occurs in almost all feed ingredients. However not all of the naturally occurring choline is bioavailable.  A lot of animals need a minimal amount of choline which is not fully covered by the natural choline content of the feed. For many years Choline Chloride has been added as a standard ingredient to premixes and as an additive to feed preparations for a variety of monogastric animals. Not only traditional poultry and pig feeds, but more recently also more exotic species like ostrich and sturgeon are fed with feeds supplemented with this traditional and widespread feed additive.

In the compound feed sector, choline is generally added as the hydrochloric acid salt choline chloride. It is widely incorporated in feed for poultry, pigs, crustaceans, fish and calves, as well as being an essential additive to pet food.

Poultry: Poultry have a specific need for choline. Choline plays an essential role in egg yolk formation. Prevention of perosis requires the addition of choline to the feed.  

Crustaceans: Shrimp and prawns Shrimp and prawns are slow feeders. Part of the choline leaches from the pellets into the water. Choline, as other vitamins, is overdosed to ensure sufficiently high available levels.

Fish: Choline shows beneficial effects to a variety of fish species. Certain species can synthesize choline, using betaine or methionine as donor of methyl groups.

Swine: The need for choline supplementation varies largely between different swine breeds. Nevertheless, pigs do experience specific benefits from dietary choline supplementation. Fat uptake and distribution is more balanced throughout the body. Choline improves the conception rate of sows. The number of piglets with leg disorders is significantly reduced.

Choline chloride is produced synthetically from trimethylamine, manufactured in-house by TAMINCO. It is subsequently formulated by patented technology to obtain Taminizer® C. The complete production process is operated under strict conditions compliant with ISO 9000 and HACCP certification. Addition levels vary by species, but also depend on age, feed composition, environmental stress, and breed. The required addition level is the difference between the requirements on the one hand and the levels of naturally available choline on the other hand. It is augmented with a safety margin, to cover up for variations of choline levels in natural feed ingredients.

For more information, please contact our Feed Additives team.