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Skin Pigmentation Evaluation in Broilers Fed Different Levels of Natural Okra and Synthetic Pigments

G.-D. Liu^*,1, G.-Y. Hou^*, D.-J. Wang^*, S.-J. Lv^,1, X.-Y. Zhang^*, W.-P. Sun^* and Y. Yang

^* Tropical Crops Genetic Resources Institute, Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, 571737, Danzhou, Hainan, China College of Agriculture and Forestry Science, Linyi Normal University, 276000, Linyi, Shandong, China

¹ Corresponding authors: liuguodao{at}126.com and lvshenjin_yang{at}sina.com

Broiler carcass skin color is important in China, the United States, Mexico, and other countries. The present study evaluated the use of natural and synthetic pigments in broiler diets at different commercial levels. The experiment included 288 fifty-day-old Da-Ma-Hua birds, divided into 6 treatments. Birds in 4 treatments were fed a basal diet consisting of 2, 3, 4, or 5% okra [Abelmoschus esculentus (L.) Moench Meth., also known as abelmosk or ram-horn bean] meal, respectively. Birds in another treatment received a basal diet without okra, and birds in a sixth treatment were fed a blend of 25 g/metric ton of 10% canthaxanthin and 50 g/metric ton of 10% carotenoic acid, β-apo-8'-ethylesters. Each treatment consisted of 3 replicates of 16 birds each. The experiment lasted 6 wk. Skin color was measured with a Kemin color fan after slaughter and chilling at wk 2, 3, 4, 5, and 6 of treatment. Pigmentation of the chicken skin and abdominal fat were significantly improved (P < 0.05) in the 4 and 5% okra treatments. The pigmentation effect reached a satisfactory level after 4 wk of treatment. The rank of pigmentation in different parts of the body of a bird was shank > breast > abdomen > back. The addition of okra meal had no significant influence on daily gain or the feed-to-gain ratio (P > 0.05). This study shows that xanthophyll-rich okra meal can be used as a natural pigment source in poultry feed, which may allow pigment use and feed costs to be reduced.

Key Words: poultry pigmentation • okra • xanthophyll • Da-Ma-Hua • color evaluation