The welfare through nutrition : carotenoids in quail eggs

Carotenoids are organic pigments synthesized by plants, algae and fungi characterised by antioxidant properties. Animals are unable to synthesize them so they must be acquired from food. The important action of carotenoids on animal welfare is related to their antioxidant and immunomodulatory activity and they are powerful fee radical scavengers and they play a basic role in embryonic and early post hatching development contrasting the high oxidative stress; furthermore they influence the nestling phenotype . In wild birds many studies have been performed on the importance of carotenoids both during and out of reproductive period all of them leading to define carotenoids as a limiting resource. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of carotenoids extracted from Tagetes erecta on quail eggs characteristics. Twentyfour 24 birds (Coturnix coturnixjaponica) were reared in 4 different 4 m2 litter floor family (1 M/5 F) pens, 2 experimental groups (Control and Treatment) with 2 replicates per group were organised. The treatment group diet contained a supplementation of yellow xanthophylls (1.67g/kg). Collected eggs were singly weighed and yolk was separated, yolk colour was graded according to yolk color fan DSM®, Roche®, total carotenoids were extracted and their concentration measured with a spectrophotometer (446nm). Statistical analyses were performed by the analysis of variance using the GLM procedure of SAS® statistics package (2009). Student's t-test was applied to the calculations of the least square means difference. No differences in birds performances were recorded; on the contrary yolk color differences and total carotenoids concentrations were highly significant: natural pigments from marigold clearly turn to strong yellow yolk color and produce ten folds higher concentrations of total carotenoids in T eggs. Carotenoids supplementation in maternal diets could be considered an effective way to supply powerful antioxidant substances to contrast hatching and developmental oxidative stress improving birds adaptability and welfare.