Influence of Canthaxanthin Supplementation on Broiler Pigmentation in Open and Windowless Houses

Shank skin pigmentation of broilers grown in open and windowless houses and fed diets containing 48.4 mg/kg total xanthophyll supplied by yellow corn, Xanthoglo®, and either 0, 1.1, 2.2, or 4.4 mg/kg canthaxanthin (Roxanthin®) was evaluated. Pigmentation was evaluated using a MacBeth MC-1010® reflectance colorimeter. Xanthophyll consumption and apparent deposition, as correlated with excitation purity, did not differ between broilers from open and windowless houses. Broilers fed no canthaxanthin or 1.1 mg/kg exhibited significantly lower shank skin dominant wavelength (DWL) values when grown in windowless houses. However, the addition of either 2.2 or 4.4 mg/kg canthaxanthin to the broiler diet resulted in no significant differences in DWL of shank skin from broilers grown in the two housing types. The addition of red pigments will resolve the adverse effect on pigmentation of windowless housing without involving higher total dietary xanthophyll levels.