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RESEARCH ARTICLE

The effect of high monacolin K red yeast rice supplement on performance, egg quality, egg yolk cholesterol, plasma lipids and enzyme profile of laying hens

S. T. Yong https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5123-753X A C , H. Y. Tan B , N. Samat A and H. K. Wong A
+ Author Affiliations
- Author Affiliations

A Livestock Science Research Centre, Malaysian Agricultural Research and Development Institute, Persiaran MARDI-UPM, 43400 Serdang, Selangor, Malaysia.

B Faculty of Applied Sciences, Tunku Abdul Rahman University College, Jalan Genting Kelang, 53300 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

C Corresponding author. Email: yongsuting@mardi.gov.my

Animal Production Science 61(16) 1672-1679 https://doi.org/10.1071/AN20585
Submitted: 6 November 2020  Accepted: 26 July 2021   Published: 21 September 2021

Abstract

Context: Reducing egg cholesterol has been a major goal of many researchers over four decades. Monacolin K, a 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl-coenzyme A reductase inhibitor, identical to the active ingredient in the prescription statin drug lovastatin, could be a promising feed supplement for layers.

Aims: To determine the effects of high monacolin K red yeast rice (RYR) supplement on feed intake, egg production, egg cholesterol content, plasma lipid and enzyme metabolites in laying hens.

Methods: Hyline brown layers were fed RYR supplement at 0, 0.2, 0.4, 0.8 and 1.6% of the diet for 6 weeks. Total and daily feed intake, egg production, egg weights and feed conversion ratio between the RYR treated groups and the control were compiled. Egg cholesterol and egg quality at the 3rd and 6th week of the feeding trial were analysed. Plasma lipids and enzymes were sampled towards the end of the trial.

Key results: Egg cholesterol were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the 0.8 and 1.6% RYR supplemented group. Supplementation with 0.8% RYR resulted in 11.16% reduction in egg cholesterol at the 3rd week with no further improvements with longer feeding. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in total and daily feed intake, egg production, egg weights and feed conversion ratio (FCR) between the RYR treated and control group. Total plasma cholesterol and triglycerides were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in the 0.8 and 1.6% RYR supplemented group when compared with the control group. RYR supplementation exert no significant differences (P > 0.05) in plasma enzyme levels.

Conclusions: The present study suggests that RYR supplementation of 0.8% resulted in egg cholesterol reduction by 11.16% with no adverse effects on laying hens.

Implications: The feeding trial showed that RYR supplement can be used as a feed additive in layer diets to lower egg cholesterol, plasma cholesterol and triglycerides with no adverse effects on layer egg production and plasma enzymes over the feeding period.

Keywords: red yeast rice, egg cholesterol, supplemental feeding, monacolin K, plasma lipid.


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