Broiler pigmentation potency of neoxanthin and violaxanthin relative to lutein

THE xanthophylls from dehydrated alfalfa meal as measured by the new Western Regional Research Laboratory (W.R.R.L.) analytical procedure include lutein, zeazanthin, cryptoxanthin, neo-xanthin, violaxanthin, carotenoid oxida-tion products, and various cis isomers of these (Kohler et al., 1967). Lutein, zea-xanthin, and cryptoxanthin have been re-ported to be good skin pigmenters while indications are the polyoxycarotenoids are relatively poor skin pigmenters (Quacken-bush et al., 1965; Kuzmicky et al., 1968). Violaxanthin has been reported to be in-effective as a yolk pigmenter (Marusich et al., 1960). However, the effectiveness of violaxanthin and neoxanthin as skin pig-menters has not been established. This study was undertaken to deter-mine the relative skin pigmentation potency (R.S.P.P.) of pure all-trans neo-xanthin and all-trans violaxanthin relative to pure all-trans lutein. GENERAL PROCEDURE1 For the two experiments conducted in this study, day-old Cornish-White Rock type cross-bred cockerels (Kimber) were depleted of pigment on a 22 % protein soy-starch ration (Table 1) for 13 days. After this period all chicks with greenish colored feet (less than 5%) were discarded and the chicks used were distributed into replicate 1 Reference to a company or product name does not imply approval or recommendation of the prod-uct by the U. S. Department of Agriculture to the exclusion of others that may be suitable