Colortek: Natural Yellow Pigment for Poultry

Pigmentation · Natural Carotenoids

Natural, stable yellow for yolk and skin

Colortek and Xamacol are natural yellow pigments from marigold, developed for stability through premix storage, from the saponification process to the packaging and validated in experimental trials and in the field.

Species

Chickens, turkeys and minor poultry for fattening, laying hens, minor poultry for laying

Application

Compound feed, premix

Active principle

Lutein-rich Tagetes erecta extract

Feed Quality

The premix is a hostile environment

Yolk color and skin color are commercial specifications, and missing them costs money at the point of sale. The variable that determines whether you hit the target consistently is not the pigment concentration on the label; it is bioavailability, stability in the premix, and uniformity of distribution in the feed. Colortek and Xamacol are the yellow built with the right targets at its core.

Carotenoids are oxidation-sensitive and sit in premixes alongside choline chloride and trace minerals, which is a hostile environment. A pigment that is stable in the bag and unstable in the premix produces color variation that looks like a dosing problem but is not. Stability under storage decides how much of the declared pigment is still there when the feed is mixed.

*All products, services, and recommendations are country-dependent and may differ based on local compliance.

Feed Quality

How pigmentation works

0 Deposition, not synthesis.

Poultry cannot synthesize carotenoids. Every unit of color in the yolk or the skin was absorbed from the diet, which is why bioavailability determines the cost per color fan point.

0 Yellow first.

Yellow and red xanthophylls are absorbed and deposited together and compete for the same absorption pathway. In practice the yolk must first be saturated with yellow xanthophylls before added capsanthin shifts the hue.

0 Stability through storage.

Oxidation protection in the formulation preserves the xanthophylls through premix storage, so that what is declared is still what is deposited when the feed reaches the bird.

0 Target setting.

Fan color preferences are regional. Northern Europe typically works around YCF 9 to 10, Central and Southern Europe between 11 and 14, Japan around 18.

Feed Quality

Products in the range

Colortek

Concentrated natural yellow with improved stability

A 10% concentrated source of natural yellow pigment extracted from the marigold flower, with improved stability and flowability compared with traditionally produced natural pigments, thanks to its proprietary process. It delivers homogeneous egg, breast and shank pigmentation, supporting cost-effective production and consistent product quality.

Form

Orange-reddish powder

Target species

Chickens, turkeys and minor poultry for fattening, laying hens, minor poultry for laying

Active principle

Lutein-rich Tagetes erecta extract

Application

Compound feed, premix

Packaging

5 kg bag

Shelf life

36 months

Availability

Global

Xamacol

Natural xanthophyll yellow for yolk and skin

A yellow pigment based on natural xanthophylls, available in different forms and concentrations, effective in enhancing egg yolk color and broiler skin. A high degree of saponification means the xanthophylls are present largely in the free form, and the formulation protects the pigments from oxidation.

Form

Yellow-ochre free-flowing powder

Target species

Chickens, turkeys and minor poultry for fattening, laying hens, minor poultry for laying

Active principle

Lutein-rich extract

Application

Compound feed, premix

Packaging

25 kg bag

Shelf life

24 months

Availability

Global

Feed Quality

Technical notes

Combined carotenoid ceiling.

EU maximum content for lutein-rich Tagetes erecta extract (2a161b) is 50 mg/kg complete feed at 12% moisture, and the combined total with other authorized carotenoids and xanthophylls must not exceed 50 mg/kg. Where a yellow and a red pigment are used together, both count against the same ceiling.

Saponification.

Saponification degree governs how much of the xanthophyll is present in the absorbable free form. Saponification specifications for the marigold products are available on request.

Combination with red.

Colortek and Xamacol set the yellow base. Where the target sits at the red end of the fan, capsanthin is layered on top, and the yellow-to-red ratio rather than the total dose sets the final score.

Feed Quality

What the trials show

Equivalent egg yolk coloration to synthetic apo-ester.

Tested at IRTA (Spain), at a ratio of 1.25:1 vs apo-ester, Colortek Yellow B reached equivalent yolk fan score than the synthetic pigment.

Outstanding pigment stability during storage and feed application:

In a comparative study against seven commercial pigment products, Colortek Yellow B showed the highest carotenoid stability over 90 days, achieving 25-30% higher recovery rates than the next-best products while maintaining excellent flowability for premix and feed applications.

Excellent stability during pelleting:

At IRTA, Spain, Colortek Yellow maintained 90-102% carotenoid recovery after pelleting and retained 78-82% carotenoid activity after three months of storage, demonstrating strong robustness during feed manufacturing and storage.

Excellent stability with time.

Xamacol 40B showed a full recovery of the total xantophylls after 24 months of storage, indicating a superior stability with time.

Feed Quality

Where it fits

Xamacol is the yellow to consider where saponification degree and free xanthophyll content are the terms of the discussion, and where a free-flowing powder suits the dosing equipment. Colortek comes into play when a higher concentration is required, according to the target fan point, and for replacing synthetic apo-esters. Its high concentration and stability make it a great fit for incorporation in the premix.

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