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A Paradigm Shift—Advances in Poultry Nutrition and Management, and Alternative...
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A Paradigm Shift—Advances in Poultry Nutrition and Management, and Alternative Poultry Feed Ingredients Using Novel Feed Processing Methods: Second Edition

A special issue of Animals (ISSN 2076-2615). This special issue belongs to the section "Animal Nutrition".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 December 2025 | Viewed by 2465

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Pramir Maharjan

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Poultry Science, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77843-2472, USA
Interests: nutrition management; feed ingredient nutrient utilization; flock performance and health
Dr. Md Raihanul Hoque

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Poultry Science, College of Agriculture & Life Sciences, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845, USA
Interests: unconventional feed ingredient; enzyme; emulsifier; rearing system effect on animal

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Feed thermo-mechanical processing mechanisms have routinely been utilized within the poultry meat and egg production industry to optimize the nutrient utilization of feed components, ultimately enhancing poultry production performance. Consequently, a plethora of studies have been conducted to better define optimal feed processing methods that alter the nutritive value and quality of animal feed components. Moreover, other studies have discussed the economic value of feed processing with increased nutrient digestibility and production performance within poultry meat and egg production to offset the additional cost of feed processing.

Feed costs account for approximately 65–75% of poultry meat and egg production. Hence, numerous studies have examined the use of more affordable alternative feed ingredients that are plentiful in supply to support sustainable poultry meat and egg production. Hence, in this Special Issue, we will examine various possible alternative poultry feed ingredients and the processing methodologies utilized to enhance their nutritive value as a feedstock ration. We also invite colleagues and subject matter experts to share their research, expertise, and opinions to help discover novel feed processing methods and further discuss poultry feed technology and poultry nutrient utilization.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Pramir Maharjan
Dr. Md Raihanul Hoque
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. Animals 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 2400 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

  • alternative feed ingredients
  • agricultural processing by-products
  • value-added feed ingredients
  • feed additives
  • feed ingredients
  • plant proteins
  • functional feed additives

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

14 pages, 588 KB  
Article
Effects of Seaweed Polysaccharide (SP) and Seaweed Enzymatic Hydrolysate (SEH) on Growth Performance, Antioxidant Capacity, Immune Function, and Gut Microbiota in Muscovy Ducks
by Hong-Yan Wu, Xiao-Feng Lin, Chang-Sheng Fu, Yang Yang, Lei Wang, Hai-Yan Wu, Pan-Pan Guo, Deng-Feng Wang and Guang-Wen Yin
Animals 2025, 15(20), 3047; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15203047 - 20 Oct 2025
Viewed by 231
Abstract
This experiment investigated the effects of seaweed polysaccharide (SP) and seaweed enzymatic hydrolysate (SEH) on the growth performance, serum biochemical indices, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal function of Muscovy ducks. A total of 240 healthy 1 day female Muscovy ducks (48.85 ± 0.45 g) [...] Read more.
This experiment investigated the effects of seaweed polysaccharide (SP) and seaweed enzymatic hydrolysate (SEH) on the growth performance, serum biochemical indices, antioxidant capacity, and intestinal function of Muscovy ducks. A total of 240 healthy 1 day female Muscovy ducks (48.85 ± 0.45 g) were randomly divided into 3 treatment groups, with 4 replicates per group and 20 ducks per replicate. The control (CON) group received a basic diet supplemented with 20 mL/kg of water, the SP group received a basic diet supplemented with 20 mL/kg of SP, and the SEH group received a basic diet supplemented with 20 mL/kg of SEH. The experimental period lasted for 28 d. The results indicate that, compared to the CON group, the average daily feed intake (ADFI) and feed to gain (F/G) of the SP and SEH groups of ducks significantly decreased at 28 d (p < 0.05). In the SP group, serum levels of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST), as well as the concentrations of glucose (GLU), triglycerides (TG), total cholesterol (TCHO), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), were significantly reduced (p < 0.05). In the SEH group, the activities of ALT and AST were also significantly lower (p < 0.05). Additionally, serum total antioxidant capacity (T-AOC) levels and superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in the SEH group were significantly higher than those in the CON group (p < 0.05), while the malondialdehyde (MDA) content was significantly reduced (p < 0.05). Compared to the CON group, serum levels of immunoglobulin A (IgA), immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-4 (IL-4), and interleukin-10 (IL-10) in the SP group were significantly increased (p < 0.05), whereas the levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β), and interleukin-6 (IL-6) were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). In the SP and SEH groups, the villus height (VH) and the villus height to crypt depth (V/C) of the Muscovy ducks significantly increased (p < 0.05), while the crypt depth (CD) significantly decreased (p < 0.05). A significant increase in the abundance of Barnesiella was observed in the SP and SEH groups (p < 0.05), whereas the abundances of UCG-005 and Romboutsia significantly decreased (p < 0.05). LEfSe analysis indicated that g__Bacillus and g__Veillonella were significantly abundant in the SP group (p < 0.05), while g__Coriobacteriaceae_UCG_002 was significantly abundant in the SEH group (p < 0.05). In summary, the addition of SP and SEH to the feed can promote the healthy growth of ducks by improving intestinal morphology, regulating the structure of intestinal microbiota, enhancing antioxidant capacity and immune function, and optimizing metabolic indicators. This occurs while reducing feed intake and feed-to-weight ratio, and there is a certain specificity in their mechanisms of action. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Paradigm Shift—Advances in Poultry Nutrition and Management, and Alternative Poultry Feed Ingredients Using Novel Feed Processing Methods: Second Edition)
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14 pages, 235 KB  
Article
Effects of an Unblanched Peanut and/or Peanut Skin Diet on Egg Quality, Egg Lipid Chemistry, and Performance of Hens Housed in a Cage-Free Environment
by Ondulla T. Toomer, Thien C. Vu, Rebecca Wysocky, Vera Moraes, Ramon Malheiros, Quentin D. Read and Kenneth E. Anderson
Animals 2025, 15(18), 2673; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15182673 - 12 Sep 2025
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Abstract
Peanuts and poultry production predominate within the southeast US. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the dietary effects of unblanched (skin-intact) high-oleic peanuts (HOPNs) and peanut skins (PN skins) on layer performance, egg quality, and fatty acid profile. To meet [...] Read more.
Peanuts and poultry production predominate within the southeast US. Hence, the objective of this study was to determine the dietary effects of unblanched (skin-intact) high-oleic peanuts (HOPNs) and peanut skins (PN skins) on layer performance, egg quality, and fatty acid profile. To meet these objectives, 200 hens were randomly assigned to four treatments, housed in floor pens, and fed ad libitum for 8 weeks a control, HOPN (24%), PN Skin (3%), or 2.5% oleic acid (OA) diet. All empirical data was statistically analyzed for variance at the p < 0.05 level. Hens fed the HOPN and PN Skin diets had heavier body weights relative to the controls at week 8 (p < 0.05). Layers fed the HOPN treatment had poor FCR and smaller egg weights with lower levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids relative to the controls (p < 0.05). Hens fed the PN Skin treatment had similar performance parameters, egg quality, and egg chemistry relative to the controls over the 8-week study. These results imply that PN skins may be an acceptable poultry feed additive without adverse effects on performance, egg quality, or egg lipid chemistry. Also, these results demonstrate the potential value-added utilization of PN skins, a waste by-product of the peanut industry, as a layer feed ingredient. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Paradigm Shift—Advances in Poultry Nutrition and Management, and Alternative Poultry Feed Ingredients Using Novel Feed Processing Methods: Second Edition)
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18 pages, 3855 KB  
Article
Tartary Buckwheat Flavonoids and 25-Hydroxyvitamin D3 Mitigate Fatty Liver Syndrome in Laying Hens: Association with Cecal Microbiota Remodeling and Lipid Metabolic Homeostasis
by Dongdong Li, Binlong Chen, Yi Zhang, Zengwen Huang, Zhiqiu Huang, Xi Chen, Caiyun Sun, Yunxia Qi, Yaodong Hu, Ting Chen and Silu Wang
Animals 2025, 15(15), 2210; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152210 - 27 Jul 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 848
Abstract
The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of tartary buckwheat flavonoids (TBF) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD) on fatty liver syndrome (FLS) in laying hens. A total of 450 35-wk-old Lohmann laying hens were selected and randomly divided into five [...] Read more.
The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effects of tartary buckwheat flavonoids (TBF) and 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OHD) on fatty liver syndrome (FLS) in laying hens. A total of 450 35-wk-old Lohmann laying hens were selected and randomly divided into five groups, with six replicates per treatment and 15 laying hens in each replicate. The control group was fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet. The FLS group was fed a high- energy–low-protein (HELP) diet, and the other three experimental groups were fed HELP diets supplemented with 60 mg/kg TBF, 69 μg/kg 25-OHD, and 60 mg/kg TBF plus 69 μg/kg 25-OHD, respectively. The experiment lasted 8 weeks. The results demonstrated that feeding laying hens with a HELP diet led to a significant accumulation of fat in their livers, liver enlargement and yellowing, as well as a decline in liver antioxidant capacity and an aggravation of inflammation. TBF alone, 25-OHD alone, and their combination had no effect on the laying performance of laying hens fed with a HELP diet. However, 25-OHD significantly enhanced the albumin content, eggshell strength, and eggshell thickness of eggs (p < 0.05). Compared with the HELP group, TBF, 25-OHD, or their combination reduced serum LDL-C and TG (p < 0.05). The combined treatment further lowered serum NEFA and MDA, enhanced liver SOD activity (p < 0.05), and unlike TBF alone (which reduced hepatic TG) or 25-OHD alone (which decreased liver index), reduced both liver index and hepatic TG (p < 0.05). Liver gene expression analysis showed that combined TBF and 25-OHD significantly inhibited the expression of fat synthesis-related genes (ACC, FAS, GPAT1, ChREBP1, LXRα, SREBP-1C, SREBP-2, FABP) as well as inflammation-related genes (IL-6, TNF-α, NF-κB, TLR4) (p < 0.05). At the phylum level of the cecal microbiota, TBF increased the abundance of Bacteroidota (p < 0.05), and combined TBF and 25-OHD tended to increase the abundance of Firmicutes_D. At the genus level, TBF increased the abundance of Phocaeicola_A (p < 0.05). Furthermore, TBF, 25-OHD, or their combination reduced the abundance of Faecalibacterium (p < 0.05). These findings suggest that combined TBF and 25-OHD mitigates FLS in laying hens potentially through remodeling gut microbiota and maintaining lipid metabolic homeostasis. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Paradigm Shift—Advances in Poultry Nutrition and Management, and Alternative Poultry Feed Ingredients Using Novel Feed Processing Methods: Second Edition)
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11 pages, 512 KB  
Article
Validation with the Dynamic Prediction Model of Protein and Amino Acid Requirements for Growth Performance and Health in Layer Chicks
by Zhi-Yuan Xia, Alainaa Refaie, Miao Liu, You-Yang Wei, Lv-Hui Sun and Zhang-Chao Deng
Animals 2025, 15(13), 1968; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15131968 - 4 Jul 2025
Viewed by 519
Abstract
This study evaluated an established dynamic prediction model for protein and amino acid nutritional requirements on growth performance and health in layer chicks. A total of 288 one-day-old healthy Jing Tint 6 chicks were randomly divided into four treatment groups with 6 replicates [...] Read more.
This study evaluated an established dynamic prediction model for protein and amino acid nutritional requirements on growth performance and health in layer chicks. A total of 288 one-day-old healthy Jing Tint 6 chicks were randomly divided into four treatment groups with 6 replicates of 12 chicks each. The chicks in the four groups were fed a basal diet (BD) according to the feeding standards and a model diet (MD) based on the dynamic prediction model for protein and amino acid values at 90%, 100%, or 110% for 6 weeks. The results showed that, compared to the BD, the 110% MD increased (p < 0.05) the FI and the 100% MD had no effect (p > 0.05) on FI, BWG, and FCR of chicks throughout the entire feeding phase. The 90% MD, however, significantly reduced (p < 0.05) FI and BWG, while also increasing (p < 0.05) FCR during the 3–6- and 0–6-week periods. Additionally, compared to the BD, the 100% MD had a lower (p < 0.05) intake of crude protein, methionine, lysine, and threonine than that of the BD. Both the 100% and 110% MDs increased (p < 0.05) bursa weight and its index at the 2nd week, while the 90% MD reduced (p < 0.05) the weights of the liver, spleen, and pancreas at the 6th week when compared to the BD. Moreover, the 100% MD increased (p < 0.05) the weights of the duodenum and jejunum, while the 90% MD decreased (p < 0.05) jejunum and ileum length at the 2nd or 6th week. Furthermore, no differences (p > 0.05) were found in serum ALT, AST, BUN, and UA between the 100% MD and BD groups. In conclusion, the dynamic prediction model can minimize protein waste while supporting healthy growth and development in layer chicks. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue A Paradigm Shift—Advances in Poultry Nutrition and Management, and Alternative Poultry Feed Ingredients Using Novel Feed Processing Methods: Second Edition)
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