Effects of different concentrations of canthaxanthin microencapsulated with gelatin or lignosulfonate on laying performance, yolk color of hens

Abstract

Gelatine (GL) is widely available as a microencapsulated material that prevents the decomposition of canthaxanthin (CX). However, there are still disadvantages such as instability, poor safety, and chromium overload. Our study aimed to determine the effects of using Lignosulfonate (LS) as a potential substitute to GL microencapsulation of CX on the productive performance, egg quality, yolk colour, and serum biochemical indicators of laying hens, as well as the optimal dosage. 1458 healthy ISA brown hens were divided into 9 treatments (162 birds in each group): basal diet containing 0 mg/kg CX (Control), basal diet containing 2 mg/kg GL-microencapsulated CX (GMC2), 4 mg/kg GL-microencapsulated CX (GMC4), 6 mg/kg GL-microencapsulated CX (GMC6), 8 mg/kg GL-microencapsulated CX (GMC8), basal diet containing 2 mg/kg LS-microencapsulated CX (LMC2), 4 mg/kg LS-microencapsulated CX (LMC4), 6 mg/kg LS-microencapsulated CX (LMC6), 8 mg/kg LS-microencapsulated CX (LMC8). The productive performance of each group was recorded daily for 4 weeks. Egg samples were collected and analysed weekly. Serum samples were taken at the end of the experimental period. The results showed that CX-containing diets had no significant effects on laying performance and egg quality (p > .05). The yolk colour level of the CX group was higher than the control group (p < .05), and the LMC group showed better colouring than the GMC group at the same CX concentration (p < .05). Meanwhile, with the increasing of CX concentration, the yolk colour increased by linear and quadratic (p < .001). CX-treatment improved serum total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) level (p < .05). In conclusion, LMC was superior to GMC in improving egg yolk colour, and antioxidant function, and there was no adverse impact on productive performance, and 8 mg/kg was the optimal dosage of LMC. Therefore, LS could be used as a potential substitute for GL in the CX microencapsulation industry of laying hens.

Keywords

• canthaxanthin
• lignosulfonate
• laying performance
• yolk colour
• antioxidantion