Physical Characteristics of Eggs from Layer Chicken Fed with Marigold (Tagetes erecta)

Abstract

The marigold flower, scientifically known as Tagetes erecta, contains carotenoids. A carotenoid is a group of pigments in vegetables, fruits, and flowers. It is widely used in cosmetic, pharmaceutical, and food industries, which are identified to decrease egg cholesterol and increase yolk color. This experimental study evaluated the effectiveness of dried marigolds as a feed additive in enhancing the physical characteristics of chicken eggs, such as yolk color, weight, and size. Likewise, hen day egg data was also gathered to know its relationship with the different physical characteristics of an egg. Furthermore, this study aimed to determine the economic benefit of improving the physical characteristics of eggs of layer chicken fed with marigolds as a feed additive. Forty-eight culled layer chickens were used in a Randomized Complete Block Design with the following dietary treatments: five, ten, and 15 percent with four replications. Adding dried marigold petals mixed with pure commercial feeds affected the physical characteristics of eggs, such as their yolk color, size, and weight, which revealed highly significant results. Eggs of layer chickens fed with 15% dried marigold petals achieved the best yield in yolk color with the darkest shade of yellow-orange pigment, corresponding to a color value of 12.31. Furthermore, layer chickens fed with ten percent dried marigolds gained the heaviest egg weight with a mass of 69.04 grams, considered an “extra-large” size. Applying different percentages of dried marigold petals as a feed additive in the poultry diet effectively improved the physical characteristics of eggs, such as egg yolk color, egg weight, and egg size.