Deposition of carotenoids in egg yolk by short-term supplement of coloured carrot (Daucus carota) varieties as forage material for egg-laying hens

Journal of the Science of Food and AgricultureVolume 90, Issue 7 p. 1163-1171 Research Article Deposition of carotenoids in egg yolk by short-term supplement of coloured carrot (Daucus carota) varieties as forage material for egg-laying hens Marianne Hammershøj, Corresponding Author Marianne Hammershøj marianne.hammershoj@agrsci.dk Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University, DK-8830 Tjele, DenmarkDepartment of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.Search for more papers by this authorUlla Kidmose, Ulla Kidmose Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University, DK-5792 Årslev, DenmarkSearch for more papers by this authorSanna Steenfeldt, Sanna Steenfeldt Department of Animal Health and Bioscience, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University, DK-8830 Tjele, DenmarkSearch for more papers by this author Marianne Hammershøj, Corresponding Author Marianne Hammershøj marianne.hammershoj@agrsci.dk Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University, DK-8830 Tjele, DenmarkDepartment of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University, DK-8830 Tjele, Denmark.Search for more papers by this authorUlla Kidmose, Ulla Kidmose Department of Food Science, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University, DK-5792 Årslev, DenmarkSearch for more papers by this authorSanna Steenfeldt, Sanna Steenfeldt Department of Animal Health and Bioscience, Faculty of Agricultural Sciences, Aarhus University, DK-8830 Tjele, DenmarkSearch for more papers by this author First published: 23 March 2010 https://doi.org/10.1002/jsfa.3937Citations: 39Read the full textAboutPDF ToolsRequest permissionExport citationAdd to favoritesTrack citation ShareShare Give accessShare full text accessShare full-text accessPlease review our Terms and Conditions of Use and check box below to share full-text version of article.I have read and accept the Wiley Online Library Terms and Conditions of UseShareable LinkUse the link below to share a full-text version of this article with your friends and colleagues. Learn more.Copy URL Share a linkShare onFacebookTwitterLinked InRedditWechat Abstract BACKGROUND: Supplying egg-laying hens with different forage materials may influence egg production and quality. The aim of this study was to examine the short-term effects of standard feed plus 70 g day−1 per hen of three coloured carrot varieties (orange, yellow and purple) as forage material in comparison with a standard feed control on egg production, egg yolk colour and deposition of carotenoids in the yolk. RESULTS: Carrot supplementation reduced feed intakes significantly, but not on a dry matter basis. Orange carrot treatment significantly reduced egg mass production, whereas yellow and purple carrot treatments did not differ from the control. Egg and yolk weights of all carrot-supplemented treatments were significantly lower than those of the control, but yolk percentages were similar. Yolk redness increased significantly in the order control < yellow < orange < purple. A similar trend was seen for yolk yellowness, but yellow and orange carrots reached the same level. Yolk colour and carotenoid contents correlated positively and significantly. In particular, purple carrot treatment increased the yolk content of lutein (>1.5-fold) and β-carotene (>100-fold) compared with the control. CONCLUSION: Supplementing the feed of egg-laying hens with coloured carrots efficiently increased yolk colour parameters and carotenoid contents, which gives opportunities for improved nutritional value of eggs from forage material-supplemented hens. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry Citing Literature Volume90, Issue7May 2010Pages 1163-1171 RelatedInformation