Researchers have found a way to produce chicken feed that contains anti-carcinogenic substances using by-products made from tomatoes.
Scientists at the Rural Development Administration (RDA) developed ways to produce animal feed additives that contain lycopene by using over-ripened and unmarketable tomatoes, according to the RDA on November 10. Lycopene eliminates active oxygen, a carcinogen, and prevents aging and the oxidation of cells.
Over 43 micrograms of lycopene were found in an egg from hens fed with a feed mixed with the additive. However, eggs from hens fed with ordinary feed did not contain any lycopene.
The shells of the eggs containing lycopene were found to be harder and thicker than those of the control eggs. Thus, there is a lower chance that they would break when they were transported or stored. According to the RDA, 25 grams of the additive was mixed with 1 kilogram of feed before the hens were fed.
"Farmers can easily produce animal feed additives by using by-products from tomatoes," said an RDA official. "This is expected to help produce high-quality eggs with more added value."
The National Institute of Animal Science and the Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology developed the technology to produce feed additives with tomatoes.
The results are contained in a book on livestock farming technologies recently published by the RDA.
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos courtesy of the RDA
jun2@korea.kr
Scientists at the Rural Development Administration (RDA) developed ways to produce animal feed additives that contain lycopene by using over-ripened and unmarketable tomatoes, according to the RDA on November 10. Lycopene eliminates active oxygen, a carcinogen, and prevents aging and the oxidation of cells.
(Left) Dried tomato powder. (Right) Dried tomato powder sulfur.
Over 43 micrograms of lycopene were found in an egg from hens fed with a feed mixed with the additive. However, eggs from hens fed with ordinary feed did not contain any lycopene.
The shells of the eggs containing lycopene were found to be harder and thicker than those of the control eggs. Thus, there is a lower chance that they would break when they were transported or stored. According to the RDA, 25 grams of the additive was mixed with 1 kilogram of feed before the hens were fed.
The photo shows how animal feed containing lycopene can change the color of an egg. One egg (T2) from a hen fed with feed mixed with dried tomato powder sulfur shows the strongest yellow color.
"Farmers can easily produce animal feed additives by using by-products from tomatoes," said an RDA official. "This is expected to help produce high-quality eggs with more added value."
The National Institute of Animal Science and the Gyeongnam National University of Science and Technology developed the technology to produce feed additives with tomatoes.
The results are contained in a book on livestock farming technologies recently published by the RDA.
By Limb Jae-un
Korea.net Staff Writer
Photos courtesy of the RDA
jun2@korea.kr
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