Effects of naturally-produced lovastatin on feed digestibility, rumen fermentation, microbiota and methane emissions in goats over a 12-week treatment period

Abstract

Twenty male Saanen goats were randomly assigned to four levels of lovastatin supplementation and used to determine the optimal dosage and sustainability of naturally produced lovastatin from fermentation of palm kernel cake (PKC) with Aspergillus terreus on enteric methane (CH4) mitigation. The effects on ruminal microbiota, rumen fermentation, feed digestibility and health of animal were determined over three measuring periods (4-, 8- and 12-weeks) and the accumulation of lovastatin in tissues was determined at the end of the experiment. The diets contained 50% rice straw, 22.8% concentrates and 27.2% of various proportions of untreated or treated PKC to achieve the target daily intake level of 0 (Control), 2, 4 or 6 mg lovastatin/kg body weight (BW). Enteric CH4 emissions per dry matter intake (DMI), decreased significantly (P<0.05) and equivalent to 11% and 20.4%, respectively, for the 2 and 4 mg/kg BW groups as compared to the Control. No further decrease in CH4 emission thereafter with higher lovastatin supplementation. Lovastatin had no effect on feed digestibility and minor effect on rumen microbiota, and specifically did not reduce the populations of total methanogens and Methanobacteriales (responsible for CH4 production). Similarly, lovastatin had little effect on rumen fermentation characteristics except that the proportion of propionate increased, which led to a decreasing trend (P<0.08) in acetic: propionate ratio with increasing dosage of lovastatin. This suggests a shift in rumen fermentation pathway to favor propionate production which serves as H+ sink, partly explaining the observed CH4 reduction. No adverse physiological effects were noted in the animals except that treated PKC (containing lovastatin) was less palatable at the highest inclusion level. Lovastatin residues were detected in tissues of goats fed 6 mg lovastatin/kg BW at between 0.01 to 0.03 μg/g, which are very low.

Pleurotus Ostreatus and Volvariella Volvacea Can Enhance the Quality of Purple Field Corn Stover and Modulate Ruminal Fermentation and Feed Utilization in Tropical Beef Cattle

“…Moreover, lovastatin can be produced by various white-rot fungi by controlling the culture conditions. The lovastatin has been demonstrated to effectively inhibit the HMG-CoA reductase enzyme in methanogenic bacteria by interfering with the assembly of isoprenoid chains needed for membrane phospholipid synthesis and thus selectively depressing the growth of methanogenic bacteria without affecting other ruminal microorganism community [12][13][14]. Our previous work found that purple field corn stover fermented with P. ostreatus and V. volvacea can be beneficial when fed as an alternative fiber feed to improve in vitro digestibility, rumen fermentation, and reduction of CH 4 production [12].…”

Effect Of Dietary Concentrate And Bypass Fat Supplements On In Vitro Rumen Fermentation, Digestibility And Rumen Microbial Population In Buffaloes

“…The study also reported that animals relying on grass alone without supplementation still inadequate to ful ll energy and protein requirement to improve their growth performance [28]. According to Kahindi et al [47], crude protein content of dry mature tropical grasses is often below the minimum 8% that can provide minimum ammonia required for optimum microbial function in the rumen. Imbalance of energy and protein supply in buffalo ration could cause negative energy balance which lead to nutritional metabolic disease such as ketosis or acidosis [43].…”

Naturally Produced Lovastatin Modifies the Histology and Proteome Profile of Goat Skeletal Muscle

“…Nevertheless, the use of statins is reported to have adverse effects such as muscular pain, cramps and/or stiffness on skeletal muscles in humans [24]. We had previously reported that lovastatin effectively decreased methane production in goats [18]. Given the potential for myopathies at higher than recommended therapeutic doses the effects of naturally produced statins on the skeletal muscles of ruminants was a primary interest of ours.…”

“…This study was approved by the Animal Care and Ethics Committee of the Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM/IACUC/AUP-R0087/2015). Detail protocols of the study have been reported [18]. Briefly, twenty intact male Saanen goatsof 4–5 months old with average live weight of 26 ± 3.4 kg were used in the 12-week feeding trial.…”

“…High dose of fermented-Monascus purpureus red rice powder (100g/day and above) supplementation adversely affected dry matter intake and ruminant physiology. We have recently reported that supplementation of naturally produced lovastatin in goats as being capable of mitigating methane emissions effectively without adversely affecting digestion and rumen fermentation, except that animals fed the highest level (6 mg/kg BW) had lower appetite [18]. Statins have been associated with the development of muscle-related adverse effects, however the effects of lovastatin on the skeletal muscle in goats have not been studied.…”