EFFECT OF ADDITION OF MARIGOLD PETALS IN POULTRY FEED TO INCREASE THE CAROTENOIDS CONTENT IN EGG YOLK AND TO ENHANCE YOLK COLOUR IN LAYING HENSS. Mahanta, M.C. Talukdar, S.Nath, P.Das, R.Saikia, H. Hazarika and D. HazarikaAbstract An experiment was conducted in the year 2016-2017 in the Department of Horticulture, Assam Agricultural University, Jorhat to determine the effect of addition of marigold petals in poultry feed for increasing the carotenoid content in egg yolk and also to enhance the egg yolk colour in laying hens. The petals were supplemented with the basal diet in terms of carotenoid content viz: T0 (Control), T1(4mg carotenoid/kg diet), T2(8mg carotenoid/kg diet) and T3(12mg carotenoid/kg diet) The treatments interacted significantly with the days of feeding for the total carotenoid content (µg/g) in egg yolk both for fresh and dried petals. On analysis of egg yolk at three days interval for total carotenoid after starting supplemented diets, it was observed that the carotenoid accumulation in egg yolk increased from 3rd day of feeding to 30th day. The highest accumulation (38.82 µg/g) and (40.81µg/g) for fresh and dried petals respectively was recorded for T3(12 mg carotenoid/kg diet) followed by T2(8 mg carotenoid/kg diet) which were 29.34 µg/g and 30.57µg/g for fresh and dried petals respectively. However, in case of the control no such accumulation of carotenoid in egg yolk was observed upto 30th day after feeding normal diet. Highest yolk colour score, as estimated by DSM yolk colour fan was recorded for both fresh petal (10.73) and dried petal (10.8) for diet supplemented with 12 mg carotenoid per kg diet (T3). The lowest colour score 7.26 was recorded for basal diet, i.e. control (T0). |