Nutritional Strategies and Digestive Physiology in Poultry
Summary
Poultry production relies on precise nutritional strategies that align dietary composition with the unique morphology and function of the avian digestive tract. Feed formulation is centred on achieving optimal levels of metabolizable energy and essential amino acids while balancing protein sources, carbohydrate fractions and lipids. Physical characteristics of the diet, such as particle size and pellet quality, modulate gizzard activity, feed transit time and nutrient release. Dietary fibre is no longer viewed solely as diluent but as a functional component that influences gut development, enzyme secretion and microbial communities. Advances in enzyme supplementation and feed processing aim to enhance nutrient availability, promote gut health and reduce reliance on antimicrobial growth promoters. Understanding the interplay between diet form, nutrient composition and gastrointestinal physiology underpins improvements in growth performance, reproductive efficiency and product quality.
Research from Nature Portfolio
Recent studies have explored feed-mill operating conditions to reconcile local production costs with high-quality pelleted rations. An investigation into die-hole diameter, conditioning temperature and pressure demonstrated that optimisation of these parameters can reduce downtime by over 75 % and increase throughput by about 30 %. Improved pellet durability was also recorded, leading to enhanced logistical handling and reduced feed wastage. These findings illustrate how engineering refinements in feed processing can directly impact poultry performance and economic viability of feed mills.
Nutritional Strategies and Digestive Physiology in Poultry publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in nutritional strategies and digestive physiology in poultry across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
Apparent Metabolizable Energy (AMEn): The energy content of feed available for maintenance and production after correction for nitrogen excretion.
Dietary Fibre (DF): Plant‐derived carbohydrates resistant to endogenous enzymatic hydrolysis, subdivided into soluble and insoluble fractions.
Gizzard: A muscular stomach compartment in birds that grinds ingested feed, facilitating mechanical breakdown and enzyme access.
Pellet Durability Index (PDI): A measure of the physical integrity of pelleted feed after handling, indicating resistance to breakage.
Villus Height to Crypt Depth Ratio: A histological indicator of intestinal health, reflecting absorptive surface area relative to tissue renewal zones.
References
- Effects and interactions of dietary lysine and apparent nitrogen corrected metabolizable energy on yellow-feathered broiler breeder hens. Journal of Animal Science and Biotechnology (2024).
- Process optimization in poultry feed mill. Scientific Reports (2023).
- Effect of Maize Hybrid in Complete Feed on the Production Performance and Economic Considerations in Laying Hens. Sustainability (2023).
- Role of Dietary Fiber in Poultry Nutrition. Animals (2021).
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