Extending Poultry Eggs Shelf Life Using Ethno Botanicals in Jos Plateau State Nigeria

Abstract

Egg shelf-life extension is vital to minimizing egg waste especially during egg glut. In this research, ethanolic extracts from three ethno botanical plants –Eucalyptus torelliana (ET), Tamarindus indica (TI) and Anarcadium occidentals (AO) were used to coat poultry eggs to extend the egg shelf-life. All eggs both coated and uncoated were stored for ten weeks at an average temperature of 20+2oC and Humidity77+3%. The Haugh unit, weight loss, albumen pH, yolk lipid peroxidation, yolk index and yolk pH were measured every three days to monitor the deterioration of the eggs. Results reveal reduction in weight loss for AO 12%, TI 46% and ET 4%. No statistically significant difference in weight loss as compared to the control was observed for AO an ET coated eggs as p values were 0.9901 and 0.9808 respectively while TI had statistically significant weight loss reduction with p value (0.031); TI also demonstrated potency in maintaining yolk integrity of the eggs and minimized change in pH of egg albumen up to the seventh week of storage. Eggs coated with ET and AO were similar to the uncoated eggs in yolk pH, albumen pH, yolk index and Haugh unit. (TI) also demonstrated potency in minimizing egg yolk lipid peroxidation with lower malondialdehyde (MDA) levels as compared to all groups of eggs.