Utilization of Xanthophyll in Fresh-Cut and Field-Wilted, Dehydrated Alfalfa and Coastal Bermudagrass for Pigmenting Egg Yolks

Abstract

Practical layer diets were formulated to contain 18.1 mg/kg total xanthophyll with 9.2 mg/kg of xanthophyll supplied by alfalfa (ALF) or Coastal bermudagrass (CBG) that was fresh-cut, field-wilted for 6 hr (daytime) or 16 hr (overnight), and then dehydrated. The diets were fed for 21 days after which eggs were collected for color and pigment analysis. Fresh-cut Coastal bermudagrass contained 84% more carotene and 36% more xanthophyll than the fresh-cut alfalfa. No consistent differences were found in xanthophyll utilization values (egg yolk xanthophyll to feed xanthophyll ratios), or CIE and L*a*b* values for yolks from hens fed diets containing the different forage products. Although alfalfa resulted in egg yolks that were slightly more red (Roche values of 10.3 vs. 9.6; a* values of 8.4 vs. 7.6) and exhibited a slightly higher dominant wavelength (580.6 vs. 580.3), these differences were thought to be due to the slightly higher xanthophyll content found in the analyzed alfalfa diets. Although total xandiophyll content may differ between these forages, or as a result of processing, when ALF or CBG products are fed to supply about equal levels of total xanthophyll, similar yolk color can be expected. (

Influência da adição de fontes marinhas de carotenóides à dieta de galinhas poedeiras na pigmentação da gema do ovo

“…Hudon 16 descreveu diferença no teor de astaxantina 17 Entre os principais pré-requisitos que determinam a preferência do consumidor por produtos alimentícios, relacionada à aparência, destaca-se a cor. Uma dieta formulada com alimentos naturais ricos em carotenóides pode determinar a intensidade da pigmentação da gema de ovos de galinhas poedeiras obtendo-se diferentes graus de intensidade de cor variando do claro despigmentado na dieta à base de milho branco , ao amarelo intenso ou laranja com tonalidade avermelhada nas dietas basais de milho das variedades com altas concentrações destes pigmentos 23 ou, alternativamente, com fontes suplementares ricas em compostos carotenóides 24 como algas marinhas 25 ou alfafa 26,27 apresentando valores de carotenóides variando de 22 µg/g no milho, 450 µg/g na alfafa desidratada e 1450 µg/g no extrato seco de alga.…”

Chromatographic Analyses of Xanthophylls in Egg Yolks from Laying Hens Fed Turf Bermudagrass(Cynodon dactylon) Meal

“…Dehydrated grasses such as Coastal bermudagrass and turf bermudagrass also represent potential xanthophyll sources for commercial poultry feeds. The utilization of Coastal bermudagrass as a pigmenting agent to laying hens has been well documented (Barnett and Morgan, 1959;Wheeler and Turk, 1963;Wilkinson and Barbee, 1968;Marusich and Bauernfeind, 1970;Burdick and Fletcher, 1984;Fletcher et al, 1985). .Turf bermudagrass has also recently been evaluated as a pigmenting source for laying hens (Chen Authors and Bailey, 1988;Bailey and Chen, 1988a).…”

Research Note: Carotene and Xanthophyll Changes During Growth and Processing of Turf Bermudagrass

“…Coastal bermudagrass has been evaluated as a potential xanthophyll source for commercial poultry feed by several authors (Barnett and Morgan, 1959;Wheeler and Turk, 1963;Wilkinson and Barbee, 1968;Burdick and Fletcher, 1984;Fletcher et al, 1985) but apparently no research has been published on feeding common or turf type bermudagrass to poultry.…”