Crazy about fried eggs but worried about your cholesterol levels? Soon, it may be possible to relish eggs for breakfast without fretting over clogged arteries. The Kerala State Poultry Development Corporation (Kepco) has finalised a proposal to produce a range of designer eggs for the health-conscious. These include cholesterol-free and nutritionally enhanced eggs.
Kepco’s hi-tech layer farm coming up at Kudappanakunnu here will provide the crucible for the project.
The value-added eggs are produced through dietary manipulation in chicken. The layer hens at the farm will be supplied with special feed based on fishmeal and linseed oil. The birds raised on this diet produce eggs with yolks containing significantly lesser cholesterol.
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K.N. Noushad Ali, Managing Director, Kepco, said the controlled conditions at the layer farm and the in-house manufacture of chicken feed were ideal factors for the production of designer eggs. “By manipulating the feed further, the eggs can be fortified with Vitamin E, iodine or Omega-3 fatty acids for cardio-protective, anti-oxidant and other health benefits.” The project will be Kepco’s first attempt at value- addition of eggs.
“Designer eggs, also called diet eggs, command a premium price, sometimes costing more than double the price of ordinary eggs,” says S. Baiju, Senior Technical Manager, Kepco. “There is good market potential.”
The hi-tech layer farm will be equipped to produce 3 crore eggs a year. It will have mechanised facilities for feeding and watering 75,000 layer hens and a replacement stock of 25,000 birds.
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The farm will have a three-tier bio-security system.
The eggs will be collected hygienically through a conveyor belt and packed automatically.
“The process will ensure that the eggs are not soiled during collection or packing,” Mr. Ali said.
The layer farm is scheduled to become operational by next March.