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Alternative and Novel Feeds for Poultry: Nutritive Value, Product Quality...
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Alternative and Novel Feeds for Poultry: Nutritive Value, Product Quality and Environmental Aspects

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 25 July 2025 | Viewed by 2734

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Petru Alexandru Vlaicu

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor
Feed and Food Quality Department, National Research and Development Institute for Animal Biology and Nutrition, 077015 Balotesti, Romania
Interests: food quality; bioactive compounds; fatty acids; antioxidants; functional foods; feed; food; animals; nutrition
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mihaela Dumitru

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Animal Nutrition and Biotechnology Department, National Research and Development Institute for Animal Biology and Nutrition, 077015 Balotesti, Romania
Interests: monogastric nutrition; feed biotechnology; probiotic products; microencapsulation; intestinal health and microflora; fermentation; enzymatic processes
Dr. Alexandra Gabriela Oancea

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Feed and Food Quality Department, National Research and Development Institute for Animal Biology and Nutrition, 077015 Balotesti, Romania
Interests: feed and food quality; by-product valorization; bio-active compounds; hydro- and lipo-soluble antioxidants; lipid degradation; functional food
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The search for alternative and novel feeds for poultry addresses the urgent need to enhance nutritive value and improve product quality and/or environmental aspects, aligning with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by promoting sustainable food systems, responsible resource use, and climate action.

Alternative and novel feeds such as agro-industrial by-products, co-products, plants, insect meal, algae, and fermented and enzymatically treated ingredients, among other novel sources, offer promising avenues to enhance the sustainability of the poultry industry. These alternative feed ingredients can improve nutrient efficiency, reduce the reliance on conventional ingredients, and minimize environmental challenges. Simultaneously, they have the potential to enhance the quality of animal-derived products, such as meat and eggs, by influencing factors like fatty acid profiles, protein composition, bioactive compounds, antioxidant profile, shelf-life, and overall sensory appeal.

This Special Issue aims to bring together contributions from multidisciplinary perspectives focusing on the nutritive value of such feeds, their impact on animal health and welfare, their effects on product quality, and their role in mitigating environmental concerns.

All types of papers related to the topic will be considered.

Dr. Petru Alexandru Vlaicu
Dr. Mihaela Dumitru
Dr. Alexandra Gabriela Oancea
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • poultry nutrition
  • feed formulation
  • nutritive value
  • animal performance
  • animal health
  • product quality
  • zero hunger
  • food quality
  • environmental impact
  • circular economy
  • sustainability

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Published Papers (5 papers)

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Research

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19 pages, 2155 KiB  
Article
Effects of Degossypolized Cottonseed Protein on the Laying Performance, Egg Quality, Blood Indexes, Gossypol Residue, Liver and Uterine Histopathological Changes, and Intestinal Health of Laying Hens
by Ru Li, Xingyuan Luo, Shiping Bai, Xuemei Ding, Jianping Wang, Qiufeng Zeng, Yue Xuan, Shanshan Li, Sharina Qi, Xiaojuan Bi, Chao He, Xuanming Chen and Keying Zhang
Agriculture 2025, 15(14), 1482; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15141482 - 10 Jul 2025
Viewed by 206
Abstract
This experiment aimed to investigate the appropriate level of degossypolized cottonseed protein (DGCP) in the diet of laying hens. A total of 600 49-week-old Lohmann pink laying hens were allocated to five treatments, with six replicates per treatment and 20 birds per replicate. [...] Read more.
This experiment aimed to investigate the appropriate level of degossypolized cottonseed protein (DGCP) in the diet of laying hens. A total of 600 49-week-old Lohmann pink laying hens were allocated to five treatments, with six replicates per treatment and 20 birds per replicate. The control group was fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet. Four experimental diets were formulated by replacing 25%, 50%, 75%, and 100% of the soybean meal protein-equivalent capacity with DGCP, where 100% replacement corresponded to the maximum safe inclusion of DGCP. The study period lasted for 8 weeks. The results showed that the feed intake, average egg weight, egg mass, laying rate, and the albumen percentage were significantly reduced in the 100% DGCP group (p < 0.05). Plasma uric acid (UA), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), and potassium (K) levels were significantly lower (p < 0.05), and depth of crypt (CD) was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the 100% DGCP group. The DGCP diet linearly increased the relative abundance of Bacteroidota and Bacteroide and significantly increased the relative abundance of Desulfobacterotas in the cecum contents compared to the control group (p < 0.05). The ACE and Chao1 indices in both the control group and the 100% DGCP group were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, the dietary addition of DGCP can reach up to 114.6 g/kg. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative and Novel Feeds for Poultry: Nutritive Value, Product Quality and Environmental Aspects)
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16 pages, 4037 KiB  
Article
The Potential of Pequi Oil as a Modulator of Chaperone Expression to Minimize Heat Stress in Laying Hens
by Paola Aparecida Damázio Rodrigues, Joyce Andrade da Silva, José Cavalcante Souza Vieira, Gabrieli Andressa de Lima, Laís Garcia Cordeiro, Elis Omar Figueroa Castillo, Júlia de Lima Lopes, Marília Afonso Rabelo Buzalaf, Pedro de Magalhães Padilha and José Roberto Sartori
Agriculture 2025, 15(8), 867; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15080867 - 16 Apr 2025
Viewed by 556
Abstract
Pequi oil (PO) is a natural feed additive rich in bioactive compounds, which can modulate antioxidant and immunological systems. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the proteomic profile of laying hens supplemented with PO under heat stress conditions. Ninety-six 26-week-old [...] Read more.
Pequi oil (PO) is a natural feed additive rich in bioactive compounds, which can modulate antioxidant and immunological systems. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the proteomic profile of laying hens supplemented with PO under heat stress conditions. Ninety-six 26-week-old Lohmann White hens were housed in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with two climate chambers (cyclic heat stress and thermoneutral) and two diets (control and 0.6% PO). At 38 weeks old, liver samples were collected for protein extraction and digestion, and were submitted to liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). A total of 996 differentially expressed proteins were identified in the liver proteome of laying hens fed with 0.6% PO under heat stress. These upregulated proteins (0.95 ≤ p ≤ 1.00) are associated with lipid metabolism (apolipoprotein B; vitellogenin-1; ovotransferrin), the antioxidant system (protein disulfide-isomerase A4; superoxide dismutase 1_ soluble; catalase), the immune system (Ig-like domain-containing protein) and chaperones (HSP 90; HSP 70). PO positively modulates a network of heat shock proteins and antioxidant enzymes, and the unique proteins identified can contribute to the discovery of new biomarkers related to heat stress reduction by phytogenic additives. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative and Novel Feeds for Poultry: Nutritive Value, Product Quality and Environmental Aspects)
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17 pages, 1106 KiB  
Article
Dietary Passion Fruit Seed Oil Supplementation for Health and Performance of Laying Hens
by Laís Garcia Cordeiro, Paola Aparecida Damázio Rodrigues, Gabrieli Andressa de Lima, Elis Omar Figueroa Castillo, Joyce Andrade da Silva, Júlia de Lima Lopes, Anna Luísa Lang, Samir Moura Kadri, Antônio Celso Pezzato and José Roberto Sartori
Agriculture 2025, 15(8), 864; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15080864 - 16 Apr 2025
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Abstract
Passion fruit seed oil (PFSO) is rich in bioactive compounds, which can enhance laying hens’ health and performance. The current study was conducted to investigate the effect of increasing PFSO supplementation in laying hens’ productive performance, egg quality, relative weight and length of [...] Read more.
Passion fruit seed oil (PFSO) is rich in bioactive compounds, which can enhance laying hens’ health and performance. The current study was conducted to investigate the effect of increasing PFSO supplementation in laying hens’ productive performance, egg quality, relative weight and length of organs, plasma lipid oxidation, antioxidant status, and gene expression of SOD, GPx, CAT, and NRF2 in the liver. One hundred ninety-two 25-week-old Lohmann Whites were randomly divided into three treatments (n = 8 replicates/diet, 8 hens/replicate). The groups were fed a corn–soybean basal diet containing 0.00%, 0.45%, and 0.90% PFSO for 16 weeks. The results indicated that increasing supplementation of PFSO decreased plasma lipid oxidation (n = 8; linear, p = 0.012) and increased CAT gene expression (n = 8; linear, p = 0.001). SOD and NRF2 genes tended to increase linearly, and GPx was not affected (n = 4; p > 0.05). The CAT activity tended to decrease linearly and the SOD and GPx were not affected (n = 8; p > 0.05) by diets. Performance and most egg quality, relative weight, and length of organs did not differ among treatments (n = 8; p > 0.05). Therefore, increasing the supplementation of PFSO in the diet may have positive effects on the laying hens’ health by decreasing oxidative stress, stimulating the antioxidant defense system, and sustaining egg production and quality. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative and Novel Feeds for Poultry: Nutritive Value, Product Quality and Environmental Aspects)
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14 pages, 263 KiB  
Article
Effect of Dietary Inclusion of Olive Leaves and Olive Pulp on the Oxidative Status and Meat Quality of Broiler Chickens
by Vida Rezar, Manca Pečjak Pal, Janez Salobir and Alenka Levart
Agriculture 2025, 15(6), 662; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15060662 - 20 Mar 2025
Viewed by 529
Abstract
The production of olive oil results in various by-products such as olive leaves and olive pulp, which can be utilized in animal nutrition. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary olive leaves and olive pulp on the [...] Read more.
The production of olive oil results in various by-products such as olive leaves and olive pulp, which can be utilized in animal nutrition. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary olive leaves and olive pulp on the oxidative status and fatty acid (FA) composition of broiler breast meat. A total of 120 one-day-old male Ross 308 broilers were randomly divided into 5 experimental groups: 1 control group (Cont) without supplementation and 4 experimental groups supplemented with either 5% or 10% olive leaves (OLeav5; OLeav10) or olive pulp (OPulp5; OPulp10). Blood and breast muscle samples were taken at the end of the experiment. The results showed that the addition of olive leaves or olive pulp did not significantly alter the concentration of malondialdehyde (MDA) and the antioxidant capacity of lipid-soluble compounds (ACL) in the blood or the enzyme activities of the liver. However, the antioxidant capacity of water-soluble compounds (ACW) in serum was reduced in broilers receiving 5% olive pulp or 10% olive leaves (p = 0.002). In addition, meat quality parameters were not affected by olive leaves or pulp intake, although 10% olive leaves reduced lightness (L*) (p = 0.023) and α-tocopherol concentration in breast muscle (p = 0.001) compared to control. Olive leaves and pulp intake also affected the FA profile of the breast muscle, with 5% olive pulp increasing monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) content (p = 0.002), while 10% olive leaves increased polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) content (p = 0.015). In conclusion, supplementation with up to 5% olive leaves or pulp had no adverse effects on the oxidative status and meat quality of broilers. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative and Novel Feeds for Poultry: Nutritive Value, Product Quality and Environmental Aspects)

Review

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23 pages, 990 KiB  
Review
Toward Sustainable Broiler Production: Evaluating Microbial Protein as Supplementation for Conventional Feed Proteins
by Daniela-Mihaela Grigore, Maria-Luiza Mircea and Elena Narcisa Pogurschi
Agriculture 2025, 15(14), 1486; https://doi.org/10.3390/agriculture15141486 - 10 Jul 2025
Viewed by 226
Abstract
The increasing demand for sustainable poultry production has urged the exploration of alternative feed strategies supporting animal performance and environmental goals. The first section outlines the protein requirements in broiler nutrition (19–25% crude protein) and the physiological importance of balanced amino acid profiles. [...] Read more.
The increasing demand for sustainable poultry production has urged the exploration of alternative feed strategies supporting animal performance and environmental goals. The first section outlines the protein requirements in broiler nutrition (19–25% crude protein) and the physiological importance of balanced amino acid profiles. Vegetal conventional protein sources are discussed in terms of their nutritional value (12.7–20.1 MJ/kg), limitations (antinutritional factors), and availability. Emerging trends in broiler nutrition highlight the integration of supplements and the need for innovative feed solutions as support for the improvement in broiler body weight and feed efficiency increase. Microbial protein sources: yeast biomass (41–60% of 100 g dry weight), microbial mixed cultures (32–76% of 100 g dry weight), and beer by-products, such as brewer’s spent yeast (43–52% of 100 g dry weight), offer promising nutritional profiles, rich in bioactive compounds (vitamin B complex, minerals, enzymes, and antioxidants), and may contribute to improved gut health, immunity, and feed efficiency when used as dietary supplements. The review also addresses the regulatory and safety considerations associated with the use of microbial protein in animal feed, emphasizing EU legislation and standards. Finally, recent findings on the impact of microbial protein supplementation on broiler growth performance, carcass traits, and overall health status are discussed. This review supports the inclusion of microbial protein sources as valuable co-nutrients that complement conventional feed proteins, contributing to more resilient and sustainable broiler production and broiler meat products. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Alternative and Novel Feeds for Poultry: Nutritive Value, Product Quality and Environmental Aspects)
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