Three experiment were conducted to evaluate the feeding value of red crab meal(CM) and to investigate the effect of its dietary supplementation on productivity and egg yolk pigmentation in laying hens.
In the first experiment a total of 120 brown layers at the age 29wks in commercial cage were fed for 3 wks with 5 different diets containing 0, 3, 4.5, 6% CM or 0% CM with Carophyll Red. In second experiment, effect of supplemental squid oil(SO) and yellow grease (YG) together with CM on egg yolk color was investigated by feeding one hundred twenty 29 wk old brown layers(ISA Brown) for 3 wks with one of following 5 diets ; control diet containing no CM and SO 6.0%CM+SO, 3%CM+SO, 4.5%CM+SO, or 6%CM+YG. The third experiment was designed for field test of the diet containing 0.85% CM and 1.88% SO by six hundred fifty 30wks old ISA Brown laying hens.
Measurements were made on yolk color score, egg production rate and egg weight during the experimental periods. Egg production rate were not different among the treatments indicating the CM did not adversely affect the reproductive performances of laying hens.
Dietary supplementation of CM resulted in increased egg yolk pigmentation compared to that of controls, suggesting that CM can be used as a feed additive for yolk pigmentation up to 6% without any adverse effects on productivity. The level of CM supplementation produced egg yolk color as good as commercially available synthetic pigment such as Carophyll Red in laying hens.
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