Enrichment of vitamins D3, K and iron in eggs of laying hens

Abstract

An experiment was conducted to produce eggs enriched with vitamins D 3, K and iron in eggs. Six hundred 97-wk-old ISA Brown force molted hens were allocated to completely randomized block arrangement of six dietary treatments: T1; control (C), T2; C+4,000 IU vitamin D3+2.5 mg vitamin K+100 ppm Fe, T3; C+8,000 IU vitamin D3+5.0 mg vitamin K+100 ppm Fe, T4; C+12,000 IU vitamin D3+7.5 mg vitamin K+100 ppm Fe, T5; C+16,000 IU vitamin D3+10.0 mg vitamin K+100 ppm Fe, T6; C+20,000 IU vitamin D3 +12.5 mg vitamin K+100 ppm Fe. Fe was supplemented with Fe-methionine. Each treatment consisted of five replicates of ten cages with two birds per cage. Egg production and egg weight were highest in T2 and incidence of soft and broken egg was highest in T6. Haugh unit was not different among treatments although it tended to be increased as dietary vitamins D3 and K increased. Eggshell strength was not different among treatment. Concentrations of vitamin D3 and K in egg yolk increased and plateaued approximately 20 days after feeding supplemented diets. The level of these vitamins peaked at 12,000 IU/kg vitamin D3 and 7.5 mg/kg vitamin K supplementation and then decreased at the higher than these supplementation levels. The peak concentrations of vitamin D3 and vitamin K were 4.6 times and 4.8 times greater than the control, respectively. Supplementary Fe also increased Fe content in egg yolk. It is concluded that vitamin D3 and K in eggs can be effectively enriched by proper supplementation time and level of these vitamins.