Evaluation of three pigment levels of marigold petals (tagetes erecta) on skin pigmentation of broiler chiken

Abstract

Different levels of yellow saponified xanthophylls obtained FROM Aztec marigold flower extract (Tagetes erecta) were assessed regarding their pigmentant effect when added to broilers diets. Two hundred and forty mixed sex chicks one-day-old of the Ross strain were distributed in a completely randomized design of three treatments with four replications of twenty birds each. Treatments were addition of 60, 70 and 80 ppm of yellow saponified xanthophylls obtained FROM Aztec marigold flower extract to a soybean meal - sorghum diet given to chicks FROM d 21 through d 47. No significant differences in productive parameters were observed (P>0.05) between treatments. With reference to yellow skin pigmentation, significant differences (P<0.05) were observed between the 80 ppm treatment vs 60 and 70 ppm treatments. Redness and lightness results did not SHOW any significant differences (P>0.05) between treatments. As a conclusion it should be stated that pigmentation obtained in broilers skins in the 80 ppm treatment is in accordance with mexican market preferences.