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Poultry gut health
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.
I. INTRODUCTION In poultry meat production birds face several challenges, all of which disturb the normal functioning of the organism, with the gastrointestinal tract being the most affected. This results in impaired absorption of nutrients, leading to reduced performance and increased mortality. Previously general practice was to feed antibiotics at sub-therapeutic levels to enable birds to cope with the challenges during growth (Wati et al. 2015). With the European Union passing...
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In the world of animal feed manufacturing, some parameters shout: protein levels, energy values, additive profiles. Others whisper, quietly shaping performance from behind the scenes. Particle size is one of those silent drivers. And yet, for monogastric species like pigs and poultry, it can be the difference between optimal feed conversion and costly inefficiencies. I’ve spent over three decades in feed process technology, and if there’s one...
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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...
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April Santos (Evonik Animal Nutrition) explains how tributyrin, a form of butyric acid, enhances gut integrity, immune function, and nutrient absorption in poultry. Learn how this solution replaces antibiotic growth promoters for a more sustainable and safe food future....
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1. Introduction Intestinal health is a crucial parameter in ensuring the health of birds and the optimal use of nutrients because of its various functions, namely the digestion and absorption of nutrients, the secretion of mucins and immunoglobulins, and selective protection against pathogens [1]. This topic has gained even more interest in poultry production because of increasing demands for economic efficiency, animal welfare, food safety, reducing environmental impact, and...
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1. Introduction The misuse and overuse of antibiotics in humans and livestock animals are primary drivers of antimicrobial resistance [1,2], which is projected to become the leading cause of global human mortality by 2050 [1]. Consequently, the subtherapeutic use of medically important antibiotics for growth promotion and disease prevention in livestock has been banned in an increasing number of countries; however, this ban has inadvertently increased the risk of infections in...
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1. Introduction Recent trends in food animal production emphasize reducing antibiotic use due to the growing threat of antimicrobial-resistant bacteria [1,2]. Consequently, there is a critical need for sustainable alternatives that promote growth and health while maintaining production efficiency. Phytobiotics are plant-derived compounds that have emerged as promising candidates for this role [3]. Unlike antibiotics, phytobiotics do not contribute to antimicrobial resistance or...
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1. Introduction Enzymes have been developed as feed additives to improve the digestion and absorption of nutrients. The first phytase products entered the market in 1991 and have since been used extensively in monogastrics. Supplementation with exogenous phytases in cereal vegetable-based diets has been shown to improve monogastric animal production and can also contribute to breaking down phytates. This reduces phosphorus contamination and improves the utilization of phytic...
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Dr. Óscar Vázquez from Evonik highlights how high-digestibility ingredients, metabolic additives, and GuanAMINO supplementation improve energy utilization, reduce feed costs, and enhance broiler performance sustainably. ...
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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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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.,...
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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...
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Bacillus licheniformis-Fermented Products Improve Growth Performance and Intestinal Gut Morphology in Broilers under Clostridium perfringens Challenges (Extract)
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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...
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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...
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Collaborating with producers: Evonik & Al-Estesharia – A Win-Win Partnership
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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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...
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