Carotenoid ketones and esters

A feed composition for poultry, fish or crustacea comprising a poultry, fish or crustacea feed and a carotenoid of the formula:

• ##STR16## wherein R is a group (b) or (c) ##STR17## in each of which R.sup.2 is C.sub.1-15 -alkyl, and n is zero or an integer 1 to 4,
• wherein said carotenoid is present in said composition in an amount effective to pigment the egg yolk, meat, integuments and subcutaneous fat of the poultry or to pigment the meat and integuments of the fish and crustacea to which said composition is fed.

A composition which when added to a poultry, fish or crustacea feed provides a combination of nutrients and pharmaceutically active substances for ingestion by said poultry, fish or crustacea, wherein said composition comprises a beadlet comprising a matrix of gelatin and carbohydrate and having dispersed therein a pharmaceutically acceptable antioxidant and a carotenoid of the formula:

• ##STR18## wherein R is a group (b) or (c) ##STR19## in each of which R.sup.2 is C.sub.1-15 -alkyl, and n is zero or an integer 1 to 4,
• admixed with poultry, fish or crustacea nutrients or pharmaceutically active substances, wherein said carotenoid is present in said composition in an amount from 0.001 to 15 percent by weight of said composition.

A carotenoid of the formula:

• ##STR20## wherein R is a group (b) ##STR21## R.sup.2 is C.sub.1-15 -alkyl;
• and n is zero or an integer from 1 to 4.

A method of pigmenting the egg yolk, integuments and subcutaneous fat of poultry, and the meat and integuments of fish and crustacea, said method comprising feeding said poultry, fish or crustacea a feed composition for poultry, fish or crustacea comprising a poultry, fish or crustacea feed and a carotenoid of the formula:

• ##STR22## wherein R is a group (b) or (c) ##STR23## in each of which R.sup.2 is C.sub.1-15 -alkyl;
• and n is zero or an integer 1 to 4,
• wherein said carotenoid is present in said composition in an amount effective to pigment the egg yolk meat, integuments and subcutaneous fat of the poultry or to pigment the meat and integuments of the fish and crustacea to which said composition is fed.