The Dietary Effects of Marigold Extracts on Egg Production, Egg Quality and the Production of Lutein Fortified Chicken Eggs

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate dietary effects of Marigold extract on laying performance, egg quality, oxidative stability of egg yolk and lutein transfer into chicken eggs. A total of one-hundred eighty nine 55-wk-old Hy-Line Brown layers were divided into seven groups and fed control diet or each experimental diet containing 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 or 2.0% Marigold extract. Egg production, egg weight and daily egg mass were not affected by dietary treatments. The yolk colors in groups fed diets containing Marigold extract were significantly higher than that of control. The Haugh unit were tended to be improved by feeding of diets containing Marigold extract although there were no significant difference in egg shell strength and thickness. The MDA (malondialdehyde) contents in groups fed diets containing Marigold extract above 0.5% were significantly reduced than that of control. After 14d of storage, the Haugh unit values in groups feed diets containing 0.3 and 1.0% Marigold extract were significantly higher than that of control (p