Effect of Bixa orellana in the alteration of characteristics of poultry laying eggs

This research evaluated the effects of addition of anatto (Bixa orellana L.) to feed laying hens to verify the possible interference of the anatto on egg quality. The eggs were obtained from 125 animal divided in 5 treatments: Control (0% - T1) and four treatments with addition of anatto (0.5% - T2: 1.0% - T3 1.5% - T4 and 2.0% - T5). The laying hens were separated in five blocks, each block with 5 animals, with total 25 animals by parcel. The eggs picked were classified using eggscopic. weighed. specific gravity, Haugh unit, albumen and yolk height, thickness of the shell, diameter and index yolk. Different feeds did not modify: weight; specific gravity albumen height, thickness of the shell: yolk height and diameter of yolk. About the eggs quality analysis. addition of anatto did not show significance (p > 0.05) among the treatments to most of the parameters of physical quality of eggs, only Haugh unit and yolk index showed differences (p <= 0.05).