Nutritional Influences on Avian Reproductive Health

Nutrition plays a central role in avian reproductive health, influencing each stage of the reproductive cycle from gametogenesis to successful embryonic development. Adequate energy supply and balanced profiles of proteins, lipids and carbohydrates underpin the synthesis of reproductive hormones orchestrated by the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis, while micronutrients and bioactive compounds moderate oxidative stress within gonadal tissues. Essential fatty acids, such as long-chain polyunsaturated fatty acids, are incorporated into sperm and egg membranes, affecting fluidity, fertilisation and early embryo viability. Antioxidant micronutrients—including selenium, vitamin E, L-carnitine and plant-derived flavonoids—protect developing gametes from lipid peroxidation and DNA damage, thereby preserving semen quality and hatchability. Dietary restriction strategies and macronutrient modulation can also ameliorate age-related declines in sperm output by triggering adaptive metabolic pathways. In commercial poultry, optimised feed formulations contribute to enhanced fertility, hatchability and progeny performance, while in wild and ornamental species, targeted supplementation supports conservation breeding and health management. Emerging research underscores the interplay between dietary components and signalling pathways (for example MAPK, Wnt and TGF-β) that govern testicular development and oocyte maturation, highlighting avenues for precise nutritional interventions with global significance for food security and biodiversity conservation.

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Nutritional Influences on Avian Reproductive Health publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in nutritional influences on avian reproductive health across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Oxidative stress: Imbalance between production of reactive oxygen species and antioxidant defence that leads to cellular damage.

Reactive oxygen species (ROS): Chemically reactive molecules containing oxygen that can damage lipids, proteins and DNA.

Transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq): High-throughput method for quantifying the complete set of RNA transcripts in a tissue to identify differentially expressed genes.

Spermatogenesis: Process of sperm cell development within the seminiferous tubules of the testis.

Seminiferous tubules: Tubular structures in the testes where germ cells proliferate and differentiate into mature spermatozoa.

Antioxidant enzymes: Proteins such as superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase that catalyse the neutralisation of reactive oxygen species.

References

1. The Effects of Varying Combinations of Dietary Selenium, Vitamin E, and Zinc Supplements on Antioxidant Enzyme Activity, and Developmental and Histological Traits in Testicular Tissues of 1-Year-Old Native Turkish Ganders. Sustainability (2023).
2. Dietary restriction promote sperm remodeling in aged roosters based on transcriptome analysis. BMC Genomics (2024).
3. Dietary quercetin and vitamin E supplementation modulates the reproductive performance and antioxidant capacity of aged male breeder chickens. Poultry Science (2022).