Effect of Bile Acids on Egg Production, Serum Cholesterol and Egg Cholesterol in Hens

It was found that lithocholic acid alone or in combination with cholic acid in the diet when fed to hens caused an increase in serum cholesterol and an abrupt decrease in egg production. Cholic acid supplementation had no effect on serum cholesterol but caused a temporary decrease in egg production which returned to the control level after 25 days. A second experiment was conducted to determine the effect of level of lithocholic acid in the diet on laying hens. Diets containing none, 0.025, 0.05 and 0.10% of lithocholic acid were fed to laying hens. The results show that the feeding of 0.10% of lithocholic acid significantly decreased egg production, while increasing serum cholesterol level, total egg lipids and egg cholesterol. None of the supplements had any significant effects on egg size.