摘要 |
The methods and compositions of the present invention produce cholesterol-lowering compounds including statins by colonizing Monascus species (red yeast) on a semi-solid substrate of the animal feed composition. The methods and compositions of the present invention further provide low cost production of Monascus species by inoculation and colonization of Monascus spp. on commercially-available poultry foodstuff. The methods and compositions provide for inoculation, incubation and colonization of Monascus spp. on a solid or semisolid substrate. The semisolid substrate is produced by combining poultry foodstuff which may be standard poultry foodstuff, soybean, cracked soybean, wheat, wheat bran and/or other appropriate components. The poultry foodstuff are aseptic to allow preferential colonization by Monascus spp. The Monascus colonization on the poultry foodstuff has been found to provide high levels of statins and other cholesterol-lowering components in the animal feed composition. When the animal feed composition is fed to an egg-laying animal, such as a chicken, duck, goose, turkey, or quail, levels of cholesterol in the eggs of the animal are significantly reduced. |