The Effect of Algae, Dried Lake Weed, Alfalfa and Ethoxyquin on Yolk Color

IT HAS been shown by several workers that the hen does not manufacture yolk pigment in her body. Palmer and Kempster (1919) reported that the hen only passes on the pigments. Stewart and Atwood (1903) and Dryden (1905) reported that different feed ingredients affected yolk color. Gillam and Heilbron (1953) and Peterson et al. (1939) reported that xanthophylls are deposited to a much greater extent in egg yolk and the subcutaneous tissues of poultry than are cryptoxanthin and carotene. Goodwin (1954) reported that under normal conditions the single pigment xanthophyll contributes about 70% of the total yolk color. Carlson et al. (1961) estimated that beta carotene contributes only 2% to yolk color. Fritz (1962) also reported that on a typical yellow corn basal laying ration the color of the yolk is about 70% xanthophyll and about 30% zeaxanthin. Sunde (1962) also reported data on the relative amounts of viatmin A,…