To investigate the e ects of dietary mulberry leaves on egg yolk color and egg quality, a total of laying hen CP Brown were randomly allotted into groups with replicate of chickens per replicates. Each replicate was furthermore divided into large cages ( cm) with birds. Dried mulberry leaves were supplemented to a basal diet ( . CP, kcal/kg ME) at (control), , and for days. Compared to control, any adverse e ects were not observed in feed intake, body weight gain, egg production rate, egg weight, yolk weight, albumin weight, shell thickness and Haugh unit in dietary mulberry leaves groups. However, pigmentation score of yolk color measured using Roche yolk color fan was higher in all treatment groups ( . to . ) than in the control ( . ) ( . ), and the dietary mulberry leaves group showed the highest value. These results suggest that the mulberry leaves can improve the pigmentation of egg yolk, and that the mulberry leaves also can become the egg color source until supplementation.: egg quality, egg yolk color, layer, mulberry leaves color (North and Bell, ). Although the required degree of pigmentation from light yellow to dark red One of the most important egg qualities for the consumvaries among countries and even between regions of the ers buying retail eggs is egg yolk color. Most table egg same country, many consumers in Thailand have preconsumers and processors of liquid, frozen and dried egg ferred dark red colored yolks (Donald and William, products desire a darker yolk color (North and Bell, ). To require deeper color than that provided by ). As the layer hens cannot synthesize the pigments natural xanthophylls, the industry in European countries of egg yolk, the egg yolk color closely depends on the such as England, France, Germany, Italy and Spain are fat-soluble pigments in the fed diets. The yellow color of known to supplement synthetic canthaxanthin to layer the yolk is caused by lipid-like compounds called as xandiets. However, current consumers are increasing dethophylls (Rose, ), which is a source of red pigments manding foods from chemical-free production systems. and found in alfalfa meal, corn and gluten meal (Baiao, Poultry farmers will eventually need to move away from ). Maize is particularly high in xanthophylls ( the use of chemical feed additives. As artificial color mg kg ) (Rose, ), and be used for inducing a deep additives are not permitted (Rose, ), we are looking yellow yolk. On the other hand, most of cereals contain for other natural pigments, as alternatives to synthetic no xanthophylls (Rose, ). Therefore, di erent inpigments. tensities of yellow are induced by fed feed ingredients.The mulberry plant in tropical belt is grown to be low For example, hens fed mash diets containing yellow maize bush, but it becomes high bush in high temperate regions. and alfalfa meal laid eggs with dark yellow yolks, while Especially, mulberry plant of north-eastern Thailand is the diets based on cereals such as wheat, barley or rice need a largest of the genus. Although mulberry leaves are usu...

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This study aimed to investigate the carnosine content and ATP-grasp domain-containing protein 1 (CARNS1) gene expression and their relationship with breast meat of Black Chinese (BC), KU-Phuparn (KP), Pradu Hang Dam (PD), and Black Chinese × Pradu Hang Dam (Sri Mok: SM) to aid in the selection and mating programs for developing functional meat in Thai chicken populations. The results show that the carnosine content in each breed and breed group varied from 428.08 to 553.93 mg/100 g, whereas the relative expression of CARNS1 ranged from 0.84 to 1.56. The BC and KP chicken breeds had a higher carnosine content (p < 0.01) and higher CARNS1 expression level (p < 0.05) than the SM and PD chicken breeds. The carnosine content and relative gene expression for each age ranged from 423.02 to 577.83 mg/100 g and 0.68 to 1.83, respectively. At 4 weeks of age, the carnosine content (p < 0.01) and gene expression (p < 0.05) were the highest. However, they decreased as chicken age increased further. The carnosine content and gene expression linearly decreased as chicken age increased (p < 0.01). The correlation coefficient between the level of gene expression and carnosine content was moderately positive. The results from this study showed that different breeds and ages of chickens have different amounts of carnosine, and CARNS1 could act as a biomarker to study marker-assisted selection to improve functional meat in the chicken population in Thailand.