Vitamin D in eggs increased 4X after UV lighting near legs was added – April 2019

Feasibility of artificial light regimes to increase the vitamin D content in indoor-laid eggs

Poultry Science, pez234, https://doi.org/10.3382/ps/pez234
Julia Kühn, Corinna Wassermann, Stephan Ebschke, Alexandra Schutkowski, Katrin Thamm, Monika Wensch-Dorendorf, Eberhard von Borell, Gabriele I Stangl

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Vitamin D insufficiency is prevalent worldwide. Recently, we showed that exposure of laying hens to sunlight or artificial ultraviolet B (UVB) light is an efficient strategy to increase the vitamin D content in eggs. In the current study, using 2 different chicken genotypes and stocking densities, we addressed the question of whether different UVB-emitting regimes work under real indoor housing conditions in a floor system or in furnished cages. Here, we found a 3.7-fold increase in the egg vitamin D content in Lohmann Selected Leghorn hens and a 4.2-fold increase in Lohmann Brown hens after UVB exposure for 6 h/d. The data further reveal that UVB exposure under high stocking density is equally effective compared to that at low stocking density. The different light regimes were not associated with changes in the behavior of these animals. To conclude, artificial UVB-emitting light regimes are a practical strategy to increase the vitamin D content in indoor-laid eggs.
PDF "Cages were equipped with one 120 cm long UVB lamp (intensity of 49 μW/cm2 at a distance of 20 cm) that was switched on for 6 h/d”

Press Release
“After only three weeks of UV light exposure for six hours per day, the vitamin D content of the eggs increased three to four-fold.”

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