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From Gut to Gain: The Microbiome’s Contribution to Broiler Health and Productivity
by
, , and
Nourhan Nassar
1,2,†,
Mohamed Tharwat
3,†,
Aya Tayel
4,
Muhammad Tariq
5,
Yasir Muhammad Khan
6,
Fahad A. Alshanbari
7,* and
Ibrar Muhammad Khan
1,* 1
College of Life Science, Anhui Agricultural University, Hefei 230036, China
2
Department of Clinical Pathology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor 13736, Egypt
3
Department of Clinical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, P.O. Box 6622, Buraidah 51452, Saudi Arabia
4
Department of Food Hygiene and Control, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Benha University, Moshtohor 13736, Egypt
5
College of Animal Science and Technology, Nanjing Agricultural University, Nanjing 210095, China
6
Department of Zoology, University of Science and Technology, Banuu 28100, KP, Pakistan
7
Department of Medical Biosciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Qassim University, P.O. Box 6622, Buraidah 51452, Saudi Arabia
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
†
These authors contributed equally to this work.
Vet. Sci. 2026, 13(7), 633; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci13070633 (registering DOI)
Submission received: 9 May 2026
/
Revised: 15 June 2026
/
Accepted: 26 June 2026
/
Published: 29 June 2026
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Gut Microbiome in Regulating Animal Health)
Simple Summary
Improving broiler productivity while reducing the use of antibiotics is one of the major challenges facing modern poultry production. The community of microorganisms living in the chicken gut, known as the gut microbiome, has a profound influence on digestion, nutrient utilization, immunity, and resistance to disease. Although many nutritional strategies have been developed to modify the gut microbiome, their effects are often inconsistent because they are influenced by the bird, its diet, and the surrounding production environment. This review brings together current knowledge on these interacting factors and presents an integrated framework that explains how the microbiome, host, and environment work together to influence broiler performance. It also discusses emerging technologies, including multi-omics, artificial intelligence, precision nutrition, and next-generation microbiome-based interventions that have the potential to enable more precise, effective, and sustainable microbiome management strategies for commercial poultry production.
Abstract
The gut microbiome plays a central role in regulating nutrient utilization, immune function, and disease resistance, thereby directly influencing growth performance and feed efficiency. Existing microbiome modulation strategies, including probiotics, prebiotics, dietary interventions, and antibiotic alternatives, are critically evaluated. Despite their reported benefits, the effectiveness of these approaches often remains inconsistent across production systems. Evidence suggests that this variability is largely driven by complex interactions among microbial communities, host factors, and environmental and management conditions, which are frequently overlooked in conventional intervention-based approaches. To address this gap, this review proposes an integrated microbiome–host–environment framework that links microbial ecology with host physiology and production conditions. The framework provides a systems-level perspective for understanding the factors governing microbiome stability and production responses, offering a basis for more targeted and reliable microbiome management strategies. Finally, current challenges and future research priorities are discussed, including the integration of multi-omics technologies, precision nutrition, and data-driven approaches to support next-generation poultry production systems. By emphasizing the interconnected nature of microbiome regulation, this review contributes a conceptual foundation for improving broiler productivity and sustainability through more consistent and effective microbiome optimization.
