Egg yolk pigmentation By Fernando Cisneros, DSM Nutritional Products
Factors affecting egg yolk pigmenting efficiency The egg yolk pigmenting efficiency of carotenoids is determined by two main factors: egg yolk deposition rate and carotenoid colour (wavelength).
A golden yolk can only come from a healthy hen The right husbandry, welfare and diet, in combination with CAROPHYLL®
consumer confidence around the globe. In order for a yolk to present an attractive golden colour, carotenoids have to:
• Be ingested in sufficient quantities • Be absorbed (via a healthy gut)
• Not be used as antioxidants (low immunological challenges)
• Not be used as vitamin precursor (good vitamin status). Therefore, the hen, the environment and the feed have to work in
concord to deliver an attractively pigmented yolk. In nature, the male birds with the best colouration will attract the females. This makes sense, because only the healthier individuals will be able to obtain appealing feathers. The same goes for the females: the healthier hens will have more carotenoids for their eggs. So, in order to have a golden yolk, you need a good-quality feed, the correct husbandry practices and - more importantly - a healthy hen.
Figure 1. Egg yolk deposition rates of various carotenoids
Deposition in egg yolk Deposition of dietary carotenoids in the egg yolk depends on the individual carotenoid molecule (Figure 1). As the content of carotenoids in the feed increases, their concentration in the egg yolk rises in direct proportion.
Factors affecting egg yolk pigmenting efficiency The colour of carotenoids The wavelengths of the colours of the carotenoids used for egg yolk pigmentation fall between 400 nm and 600 nm, within the visible range of the colour spectrum.
Figure 2. Wavelengths of various carotenoids used for yolk pigmentation
carotenoids, deliver eye-catching egg yolks that inspire
To the human eye, such compounds are yellow to red in colour. Lutein, zeaxanthin and apo-ester are yellow carotenoids (wavelength
PAGE 26 MARCH/APRIL 2019 FEED COMPOUNDER
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