Poultry, fish or shrimp cannot produce carotenoids by their own. This is why feed needs to contain them. The color of egg-yolks, fish meat or shrimp depends on carotenoid combinations in their diets. Natural identical carotenoids by BASF help animal producers to attain exactly the nuances of color that are preferred by their customers.

 

Carotenoids to ensure & enhance animal fertility

Beta-carotene (β-carotene) occurs in nature, in particular in green plants. In addition to the varying amounts in individual plant feedstuffs, climate harvesting, degree of wilting, type of preservation (drying, ensiling) and storage time all affect the content.

Investigations show that beta-carotene has a positive effect on the fertility process of male and female cattle. Comparable investigations also exist for other animal species such as breeding mares, sows and rabbits. It was also possible to observe an increase in the powers of resistance against infectious rearing diseases in young animals. The utilization of beta-carotene is dependent on the animal species and on the carotene and vitamin A supply status. 

Deficiency symptoms

A deficiency of beta-carotene occurs during the keeping of animals indoors, and when using feedstuff with poor beta-carotene content. Depending on the degree and duration of the deficit, the following deficiency symptoms can occur:

• Silent oestrus
• Retarded ovulation
• Lack of fertility, for example return to oestrus
• Embryonic death, early abortion
• Increased susceptibility to rearing and infectious diseases

 

C-30 Ester for intensifying yellow pigmentation of egg yolk and broiler skin

C-30 ester occurs in nature as a metabolic product of apocarotenal, which can be extracted from grass, lucerne, green vegetables and citrus fruits.

Pigmentation of egg-yolks and broiler skin is due to the yellow pigments consumed in the feed. C-30 ester is applied exclusively in the poultry sector in order to impart a golden-yellow colour to egg yolks and skin.

Lucantin® Yellow is used as a feed additive to intensify the yellow pigmentation of egg yolk and broiler skin.

Canthaxanthin for intensifying red pigmentation of egg yolk, broiler skin, fish and crustacean

Canthaxanthin is naturally occurring in birds (feathers), fish, crustaceae, insects, fungi (e.g., Cantharellus cinnabarinus), algae and in many other organisms. Canthaxanthin is carotenoid which is usually applied for egg yolk, broiler skin and salmonid fish pigmentation.

Lucantin® Red (canthaxanthin) and Lucantin® Red CWD are widely applied as a feed additive delivering red pigmentation. In poultry pigmentation, canthaxanthin is used to impart a red colour to egg yolks and to broiler skin. Used in conjunction with yellow pigments, canthaxanthin increases yolk colour intensity to meet market demands for golden-orange yolks. In the pigmentation of salmonid fish, canthaxanthin is used in the feed in order to achieve a desirable colouration of the flesh.

Citranaxanthin for intensifying red pigmentation of egg yolk

Citranaxanthin is a red carotenoid and it is used exclusively in poultry rations in order to impart redness to egg yolks. Citranaxanthin, a close relative of the yellow pigment C-30 ester, is efficiently assimilated and deposited in yolks, where it contributes to the consumer appeal of eggs and egg products. Used in conjunction with yellow pigments, citranaxanthin increases yolk colour intensity to meet market demands for golden-orange yolks.

Lucantin® CX Forte (citranaxanthin) can replace canthaxanthin over the entire dosage range at a constant factor of 1.5:1, resulting in the same pigmentation efficiency.

Astaxanthin for intensifying pink pigmentation of fish and crustaceans

Astaxanthin is found in abundance in nature, particular in marine species. It occurs in tissue, ovaries, skin and organs of various fish species and crustaceans as well as in skin, feathers and ovaries of various bird species. The substance can also be found in algae and fungal species.

Crustaceae and fish are reliant on carotenoid intake from the food chain because they cannot synthesize astaxanthin de novo. Astaxanthin has a vitamin A activity in combination with antioxidative immune stimulating properties and increases the reproduction rate in fish.

Lucantin® Pink and Lucantin® Pink CWD are applied both as feed additive which intensifies the pigmentation of fish and crustaceae. Both astaxanthin formulations Lucantin® Pink and Lucantin® Pink CWD are suitable to intensify the typical pink colour of fish and crustaceans.