The efficient conversion of feed into its basic components for optimal nutrient absorption is vital for both broiler and broiler breeder production and welfare. Gut health, an intricate and complex area combining nutrition, microbiology, immunology and physiology, has a key role to play. When gut health is compromised, digestion and nutrient absorption are affected which, in turn, can have a detrimental effect on feed conversion leading to economic loss and a greater susceptibility to disease. In addition, recent changes in legislation on the use of antimicrobials, differing feed requirements and more efficient birds highlight the need for a better understanding of gut function and gut health.
Luisa Gene (Cargill) speaks on microbiome analysis with the help of artificial intelligence to improve performance in this Engormix interview during IPPE 2025 in Atlanta, USA.
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Mike Persia (Virginia Tech) talks about the benefits of Direct-Fed Microbials (also Sulfur Amino Acid supplementation) to help manage the adverse effects of heat stress, in this interview during IPPE 2023 in Atlanta, USA....
Laying hens need to maintain their health status, including their gastrointestinal health until at least 72 weeks of age. Gut microbiota composition is extremely important to gastrointestinal and overall health. Furthermore, the gut-brain axis enables interactions between the enteric microbiota, the enteric nervous system and the central nervous system (Dinan & Cryan, 2017). The composition of gastrointestinal microbiota can be affected by animal behavior and vice versa (Neufeld et al.,...
I. INTRODUCTION Whole grain feeding (WGF) involves the partial substitution of ground grain with whole grain in boiler diets. Whole grain (WG), usually wheat, may be added either prior to (prepellet) or following (post-pellet) steam-pelleting. WGF generates heavier and presumably more functional gizzards, which are thought to be the genesis of responses in feed conversion ratios (FCR) and energy utilisation (Liu et al., 2015). However, post-pellet WGF also provides broilers with the...
1. Introduction The global population is projected to reach 9.7 billion by 2050, driving a significant increase in food and feed demand and the urgent need for alternative protein sources [1]. Currently, soybean meal is a crucial protein source in poultry and livestock diets due to its high-quality protein composition. However, sustainability concerns, including deforestation, monocropping, and biodiversity loss, as well as the environmental impacts of conventional crop systems such...
1. Introduction Due to global warming, heat stress in hot environments has become a global challenge for the poultry industry [1,2]. Heat stress (HS) leads to significant economic losses in the poultry sector, estimated at $240 million annually [3], with summer heat waves resulting in approximately 4 million broiler mortalities [4,5]. Broiler production in tropical regions is particularly impacted by the unique environmental conditions of high temperatures and humidity, which...
In this issue: Introduction to the gut microbiome The function of prominent bacterial phyla Introduction to the gut-brain axis How microbial imbalance affects poultry welfare Practical strategies to improve the gut health of poultry What is the gut...
Each summer, soaring temperatures present a significant challenge for the poultry industry worldwide. Poultry are particularly vulnerable to heat stress due to their limited ability to regulate body temperature, making them highly susceptible to environmental heat. While the immediate...
1. Introduction Aflatoxin B1 (AFB1), a toxic metabolite produced by Aspergillus flavus and Aspergillus parasiticus, is one of the most potent naturally occurring carcinogens [1]. It poses significant risks to animal health and productivity, particularly in poultry, where the contamination of feed is a prevalent issue [2]. Broiler chickens are highly susceptible to the adverse effects of AFB1 due to their rapid growth rates and high feed intake [3]. Recent studies have...
CHAMPAIGN, Ill. – The Poultry Science Association (PSA) is pleased to announce the newly elected members of its Board of Directors, introduced during the 114th PSA Annual Meeting held July 14–17, 2025, in Raleigh, North Carolina.
The new board members bring a wealth of...
Champaign, IL - The Poultry Science Association (PSA) concluded its 2025 Annual Meeting & Scientific Conference in Raleigh, North Carolina, marking another milestone in fulfilling the Association’s mission of aiding in the discovery, dissemination, and application of the poultry sciences. More than 1,200...
1. Introduction There is considerable interest in the successful development of low protein diets for broiler chickens, which axiomatically contain high inclusions of supplemental amino acids. This is because low protein diets have the potential to generate economic, environmental and bird welfare advantages. Formulation of low protein diets are usually achieved by decreasing...
I. INTRODUCTION The digestive dynamics of starch and protein are considered pivotal to broiler performance (Liu and Selle, 2015). Moreover, it was proposed that the rates of starch digestion and glucose absorption exceed the rates of protein digestion and amino acid absorption and this asynchrony in digestive dynamics compromises the performance of broiler chickens. If so, it follows that the provision of rapidly-digestible protein should enhance broiler performance in a reciprocal...
I. INTRODUCTION Exogenous feed enzymes were first introduced as commercially-relevant feed additives in the 1980s with an initial focus on reduction of the antinutritional effects of high molecular weight soluble pentosans in wheat- and barley-based diets for young broiler chickens (Bedford & Partridge, 2010). Exogenous phytase was launched in the early 1990s to increase the digestibility of organic phosphorus and to reduce the antinutritional effects of phytic acid (Selle &...
The use of Bacillus species as probiotic supplements is expanding rapidly and demonstrates immune stimulation, antimicrobial activities, enzyme production and competitive exclusion as the most prevalent modes of action. The objective of this study was to investigate the dosage influence on performance parameters of the novel probiotic strain CHCC15076 in birds recovering from necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by Clostridium perfringens. The experiment consisted of 1920 day of hatch Cobb...
Dear Researchers, Accept greetings from here. Can someone kindly share his knowledge on gut health and teach me how to increase the number of beneficial bacteria for broilers?...
In today's poultry industry, veterinarians, nutritionists, and animal production experts are facing challenges that go beyond sustainability and animal welfare. Nowadays, optimizing production efficiency and technological innovation are at the forefront of our concerns: Gut...
Introduction Medication costs in the poultry industry (excluding vaccination costs) can account for up to 1% of the total production cost. This amount may not seem significant, however, when we talk about cash flow and investment from a business perspective, we can measure that it represents thousands of dollars, whose profitability often falls on the production unit manager and the person responsible for managing medications. In a layer hen business unit, for every 1 million layer...
The livestock industry is currently confronted with stringent regulations limiting the use of antibiotics, along with growing challenges from resistant pathogenic bacteria. These factors have prompted an urgent need to seek alternative strategies that can effectively promote animal health and optimize feed...
I. INTRODUCTION Bacillus-based probiotics have gained increased attention as alternatives to antibiotic growth promoters (AGP) to support broiler performance in systems aiming to reduce the use of antibiotics and maintain gut health and function. Combatting poor gut health and disease susceptibility in an era without antibiotics has been made increasingly difficult due to the increasing cost of commercial feed ingredients. This has forced some producers to use cheaper dietary...