Metabolic and nutritional diseases in poultry

Deficiencies or disturbances of nutrition cause a variety of diseases and can arise in different ways. The amount of a particular nutrient in the diet may be insufficient to meet the requirements, the diet may contain substances that inactivate the nutrient or inhibit its absorption/utilisation, or metabolism may be upset by the interaction of dietary and environmental factors. Peroxidation of lipids or oxygen free radical generation in general is a physiological process important for cell metabolism, division and differentiation and also for the biosynthesis of hormones and prostaglandins. Several common health conditions can affect poultry, including visceral gout, fatty liver syndrome, cloacal prolapse, osteomalacia, vitamin E deficiency, and ascites syndrome. Understanding these conditions and implementing appropriate management strategies can help prevent and treat them effectively.