A fishy taint in eggs: Interaction between fishmeal diets and strain of bird

Abstract

1. Field cases of fishy or crabby taint in eggs have been reported, similar to those caused by feeding rapeseed meal (RSM), even though no RSM was fed. The cause was investigated using Babcock B380 and Warren SSL hens. 2. The taint was due to the inclusion of either 25 or 70 g Icelandic capelin fishmeal/kg of the diet. 3. Babcock hens produced significantly more (17%) tainted eggs than Warrens (1.2%). 4. Tainted eggs were significantly reduced to a very low proportion (1.3%) by the third day of feeding a fishmeal‐free diet. 5. The taint was due to the presence of up to 17 mg/trimethylamine kg in affected eggs.