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Agriculture
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Sustainable Production of Poultry: Feeds, Eggs and Meat Quality
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Sustainable Production of Poultry: Feeds, Eggs and Meat Quality

A special issue of Agriculture (ISSN 2077-0472). This special issue belongs to the section "Farm Animal Production".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 September 2026 | Viewed by 2155

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Simona Tarricone

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125 Bari, Italy
Interests: meat quality; feeding strategies; natural additives; by-products; agroforestry; sustainable approaches
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Marco Ragni

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Soil, Plant and Food Sciences, University of Bari Aldo Moro, 70125 Bari, Italy
Interests: meat quality; eggs quality; feeding strategies; natural additives; agroforestry; organic production
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. George K. Symeon

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Institute of Animal Science, Hellenic Agricultural Organization Demeter, 58100 Giannitsa, Greece
Interests: poultry production; poultry nutrition; meat quality; feed additives
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Poultry production plays a vital role in sustainable agriculture and in ensuring proper human nutrition. This Special Issue will focus on sustainable poultry production, emphasizing novel feed ingredients and additives, alternative raw materials with varying effects on poultry health and performance, and the gradual implementation of smart technologies and precision livestock farming principles.

The papers featured in this Special Issue will explore innovative approaches to sustainable poultry management. Topics of interest include efficient feeding practices, the utilization of by-products, and the application of circular economy principles. These studies will provide valuable insights into advancing sustainable agriculture and poultry production.

We welcome submissions that address the impact of feeding, management, transport, and storage on poultry health and the quality of meat and eggs. Topics of interest also include reducing livestock waste, optimizing waste handling, valorizing agro-industrial by-products, and exploring agroforestry practices. Both original research and review articles are encouraged.

Suggested research areas include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Novel feeding strategies, including the use of precision livestock farming technologies;
  • Innovative feed ingredients and additives aimed at mitigating health and productivity risks in poultry;
  • Poultry waste management and its potential practical applications;
  • Utilization of agro-industry by-products;
  • Circular economy approaches.

Dr. Simona Tarricone
Dr. Marco Ragni
Dr. George K. Symeon
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Agriculture is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • feeding strategies
  • natural additives
  • by-products
  • agroforestry
  • sustainable approaches

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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17 pages, 653 KB  
Article
Carcass and Meat Quality Traits in Fast-Growing, Local, and Crossbred Chickens Under Standard and Low-Input Diets
by Almudena Huerta, Anton Pascual, Alice Cartoni Mancinelli, Cesare Castellini, Cecilia Mugnai, Edoardo Fiorilla, Gerolamo Xiccato, Angela Trocino, Francesco Bordignon and Marco Birolo
Agriculture 2026, 16(11), 1156; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16111156 - 25 May 2026
Viewed by 405
Abstract
The integration of alternative feeding strategies and diversified genetic resources represents a key approach to improving the sustainability of poultry production systems. This study evaluated the effects of genotype and diet on carcass traits, meat quality, fatty acid profile, and sensory characteristics in [...] Read more.
The integration of alternative feeding strategies and diversified genetic resources represents a key approach to improving the sustainability of poultry production systems. This study evaluated the effects of genotype and diet on carcass traits, meat quality, fatty acid profile, and sensory characteristics in a fast-growing genotype (Ross 308), two Italian local breeds (Bionda piemontese and Robusta maculata), and their crosses with a medium-growing strain (Sasso). A total of 441 chickens were allocated according to a factorial design including genotype, diet (standard vs. low-input), and sex. At genotype-specific commercial endpoints, 240 carcasses were analyzed for carcass traits and meat quality, and a subset (n = 120) was used for chemical composition, fatty acid profile, and sensory evaluation. Ross 308 showed the highest carcass weight and breast yield, but also the highest cooking losses and lipid oxidation. Compared with Ross 308, local breeds and crossbred chickens exhibited lower carcass performance but also lower “wet feathers” scores and higher polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) and n-3 proportions. The low-input diet reduced carcass weight and breast yield, impaired some sensory attributes, and shifted fatty acid composition towards lower PUFA and n-3 contents and a higher n-6/n-3 ratio. Overall, crossbred genotypes showed intermediate carcass performance and some meat quality traits comparable to those of local breeds. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Production of Poultry: Feeds, Eggs and Meat Quality)
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21 pages, 356 KB  
Article
Lysine as a Modulator of Cottonseed Meal Inclusion Replacing Soybean Meal Protein in Diets for Slow-Growing Chickens at 56 and 77 Days of Age
by Mariana Antônia Vieira Gomes, Débora Cristine de Oliveira Carvalho Barros, Glayciane Costa Gois, Mário Adriano Ávila Queiroz, Marcela Pereira de Sá, Jasline Estefane Coelho de Almeida, Illa Carla Santos Carvalho, Maria Gracileide de Alencar, Airton Alves Vieira Correia, Elenice Andrade Moraes and Karine Vieira Antunes
Agriculture 2026, 16(8), 879; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16080879 - 15 Apr 2026
Viewed by 404
Abstract
This study evaluated the performance, carcass yield, and meat quality of slow-growing chickens fed diets containing different levels of replacement of crude protein from soybean meal with crude protein from cottonseed meal (CSM), with and without supplementation of 2% lysine. A total of [...] Read more.
This study evaluated the performance, carcass yield, and meat quality of slow-growing chickens fed diets containing different levels of replacement of crude protein from soybean meal with crude protein from cottonseed meal (CSM), with and without supplementation of 2% lysine. A total of 600 male chickens of the Red Colonial heavy strain were used and evaluated from 8 to 56 and to 77 days of age. In Experiment 1, chickens were fed diets with 0, 15, 30, and 45% replacement of soybean meal protein by CSM protein; in Experiment 2, the same replacement levels were associated with supplementation of 2% lysine based on the protein content of CSM. The 15% replacement level promoted higher live weight and average weight gain at 56 and 77 days. Feed conversion ratio at 56 and 77 days indicated that replacing soybean meal protein with CSM protein, with the addition of 2% lysine relative to the protein value, resulted in improved values for this variable. It is concluded that replacing up to 15% of soybean meal protein with cottonseed meal protein, with or without supplementation of 2% lysine, does not compromise productive parameters, carcass yield, or meat quality in slow-growing chickens. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Production of Poultry: Feeds, Eggs and Meat Quality)

Review

Jump to: Research

31 pages, 368 KB  
Review
White Striping Myopathy in Broilers: A Review of Genetic Factors and Non-Genetic Modulators
by Mariarosaria Fortunato, Vincenzo Tufarelli, Maria Antonietta Colonna, Simona Tarricone and Maria Selvaggi
Agriculture 2026, 16(10), 1020; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture16101020 - 7 May 2026
Viewed by 848
Abstract
White Striping (WS) is a macroscopic defect of the pectoralis major muscle, characterized by distinct white striations that impair meat acceptability and commercial value. It is a phenotype with polygenic inheritance, controlled by several QTLs and genes associated with muscle repair and metabolism. [...] Read more.
White Striping (WS) is a macroscopic defect of the pectoralis major muscle, characterized by distinct white striations that impair meat acceptability and commercial value. It is a phenotype with polygenic inheritance, controlled by several QTLs and genes associated with muscle repair and metabolism. Beyond genetic factors, phenotypic manifestation is strongly modulated by the environment. This review integrates research on genetic predispositions and modulating factors to provide a holistic overview of WS in broilers. The defect predominantly affects heavier birds with high breast yield and elevated ultimate breast pH. LRSAM1 gene, on chromosome GGA17, is identified as a putative candidate gene as its expression co-localizes with the phenotypic QTL. Chromosome GGA5 has recently been identified as the primary genomic region of interest hosting a cluster of specific markers. Research on dietary strategies has extensively explored the manipulation of feed formulations, especially of amino acids. While results for some nutrients like methionine remain conflicting, restricting lysine during the growth phase could be an effective dietary intervention for reducing WS severity. Management offers the most practical short-term solutions, whereas selective breeding enables meaningful and permanent progress across generations, given the moderate heritability of many quality-related traits. Effective mitigation requires an integrated approach combining welfare, environmental control, and precision feeding throughout the production cycle, while acknowledging trade-offs with productivity. To meet evolving consumer expectations, the industry must embrace practices that are simultaneously scientifically rigorous, ethically responsible, and environmentally sustainable. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Sustainable Production of Poultry: Feeds, Eggs and Meat Quality)
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