The Effects of Some Natural and Synthetic Pigment Materials on Egg Yolk Pigmentation and Production in Yellow Corn Diets

The study was carried out to investigate the effect of lutein, alfalfa meal, marigold meal, paprika meal, b-apo-8'-carotenoic acit ethyl ester, canthaxanthin and b -apo-8'-carotenoic acit ethyl ester+canthaxanthin in addition to 60% yellow corn diets on egg yolk pigmentation and production. Paprika meal showed the maximum Roche color fan value (RCF). b -apo-8'-carotenoic acit ethyl ester, alfalfa meal and marigold meal showed the highest b -carotene equivalents value (BCE). The maximum Hunter L value was found in the control group. Paprika meal showed the maximum Hunter a value. Lutein had the highest Hunter b value (P0.01).