- W D Williams: Lynteq, Inc., Atlanta, Georgia 30347.
There are great differences among species in the way pigment is deposited on the skin or in the egg yolk. Xanthophyll-type compounds produce the color. Consumers have associated a yellow color with a normal state of health. Many consumers insist on the color and indicate that increased cost is not much of a deterrent. At present, increasing the pigmenting properties of a poultry feed increases costs from $5 to $15/ton. Pigmentation is more costly in the fish industry and may increase the cost of the diet up to or over $100/ton, especially in the final 20% of the feed consumed before processing. The pigmentation should be consistent and uniform in both species. A history of high-pigment broilers is presented. High-pigment broilers lend themselves to effective television advertising.