Abstract
The goal of this research was to determine the concentration of macro-, micro-, trace, and ultratrace elements in egg albumen and yolk of Green-Legged Partridge (GLP) hens (Polish native breed) maintained in a free-range system. The hens received two feed mixtures (FM), which differed in mineral content (Gr-1 and Gr-2). Analyses of 57 chemical elements were performed using inductively coupled plasma spectroscopy by ICP-OES and ICP-MS techniques. FM from Gr-2 were characterized by a significantly (p < 0.05 or 0.01) higher concentration of macro- and microelements (Al, Ba, Ca, K, P, S, Si) than that from Gr-1. Among the trace and ultratrace elements there were significantly higher levels of Co, Cr, Li, Nb, Ni, Pb, Ru, Sn, and Zr, and significantly lower levels of Cs, Pd, and Te in Gr-2 compared with Gr-1. Egg albumen from hens from the Gr-2 group contained a significantly higher Ba concentration. In the case of trace and ultratrace elements, significantly greater Au, Co, Cr, Mo, Nb, Ru, and Se, and less As were recorded in the albumen from Gr-2. No significant differences were observed in the concentrations of macro- and microelements in the egg yolk. Among the examined trace and ultratrace elements, substantial differences were observed in the level of Co, Cr, Ni, Se, Sn, and Y (more in Gr-2), and Au, Hf, Hg, Nb, Nd, and Rb (less in Gr-2). Only in the case of Co and Cr concentrations in the feed (Gr-2) was a significant increase found in the albumen and yolk. Gr-2 also showed a significantly greater concentration of Ba, Nb, and Ru in the albumen, and Ni and Sn in the yolk.
Highlights
Eggs are an important source of many nutrients necessary for the proper development and functioning of the human organism
The authors concluded that trace element content in yolks were higher than trace element content in albumen
Mn concentration was lowest in yolks from the courtyard system, but Cr concentration was highest in eggs from the courtyard system
Summary
Eggs are an important source of many nutrients necessary for the proper development and functioning of the human organism. Reports have described the chemical composition of eggs from different breeds of hens from different housing and feeding systems, but determinations of macro- and trace element contents are limited. Determinations of the concentration of 11 microand trace elements (Ba, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Rb, Se, Sr, V, and Zn) in hens eggs obtained from various poultry housing systems in Latvia were reported. The highest concentration of Se in yolks was found in eggs from the organic system, followed by eggs from the conventional system. Zn concentration in yolks was highest in the courtyard system, followed by yolks from the conventional system, which, in turn, was higher than yolks from the organic system. The results show measurable differences among eggs from hens maintained in different production systems
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