Effect of Pigment from Annatto Seed in Different Levels on Yolk Quality of apanese Quails

Abstract

The experiment of mixing Annatto pigment in the feed of Japanese quail was conducted for purpose of examining its effects on yolk quality. 450 female Japanese quails . Completely Randomize Design; CRD was applied, comprising 9 group each. Different levels of the pigment mixture were represented by feed mixture control – none (negative control group)(T1), control group of commercial ready – mixed feed (normal control group)(T2), feed mixture control group with 1.5% synthetic pigment (positive control group) (T3), Feed Mixture with 1.5% Annatto seed Extract (T4), Feed Mixture with 2.0% Annatto seed Extract (T5), Feed Mixture with 2.5% Annatto seed Extract (T6), Feed Mixture with 1.5% Annatto seed Powder (T7), Feed Mixture with 2.0% Annatto seed Powder (T8), and Feed Mixture with 2.5% Annatto seed Powder (T9). Data collection of egg productivity, egg quality, and quality of yolk was done since the quails start laying eggs until they were 11 weeks old, IRRISTAT software was used in data analysis. It was found from study result of egg productivity that the quails fed with diets supplemented with pigment from Annatto seed in every level gave no different productivity compared to negative control group and normal control group. But when compared with positive control group, it was found extremely different, with statistical significance (p<0.01). For egg quality, in aspects of Yolk index and Hough unit of the quails fed with diets supplemented with pigment from Annatto seed in every level compared with the three control group, it was found that there was statistically significant difference (p<0.05).It was found from the study results that yolk index with statistical significance (p<0.01), compare with the three control group. This might be because the absorption of xanthophyll derived from synthesis to accumulate in subcutaneous fat layer and yolk was better than that of the extract naturally obtained. Therefore, the pigment from Annatto seed could be used depending on preferable yolk color of the consumers.