Year: 2021
Type: article
Abstract: Designer eggs have high market demand because of the consumers' willingness to purchase them owing to its' nutritional qualities additional to regular eggs.The current study was conducted to produce zinc enriched eggs by supplementing laying hens' diet with required levels of zinc as inorganic zinc sulphate (75mg/kg).Thirty-two number of crossbred (White Leghorn N strain and Desi) layer birds were given zinc enriched diet from 29 weeks of age for 12 weeks.The concentration of zinc in egg of birds supplemented with zinc diet was significantly higher (p<0.01)than that of unsupplemented group.The egg zinc concentration of supplemented birds was elevated from 33.36±0.89ppm (control group) to 40.85±0.47ppm (supplemented group) Keywords: Designer eggs, Zinc sulphateZinc is an essential trace micronutrient mineral which is an integral part of over 300 enzymes involved in carbohydrate, nucleic acid and protein metabolism.Zinc has a systemic role in fertility, antioxidation, skeletal and neurobehavioural functions.In addition, zinc plays a key role in the immune system, transport and the use of vitamin A. Many plant foods have high zinc content particularly cereal grains and legumes, but bioavailability is less due to presence of phytates.Though the richest zinc sources are animal products such as beef, pork and shellfish, they are expensive.Therefore, zinc deficiency is widely felt in human population.The zinc content of hen's eggs can be upgraded by relatively simple and economical dietary approaches and can be marketed at reasonable price.
Authors: P.S. Megha, V. Ramnath, K. Raji, V. Babitha, Binoj Chacko
Institution: Kerala Veterinary and Animal Sciences University
Language: English
Subfield: Animal Science and Zoology
Domain: Life Sciences
SDG: Zero hunger
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3138329185