Optimizing Alternative Protein Sources for Sustainable Poultry Diet

Dear Colleagues,

Alternative protein sources are gaining increasing attention as sustainable and innovative options in poultry nutrition. In the face of rising feed costs, environmental concerns, and global demand for animal protein, optimizing alternative protein ingredients has become essential for the development of resilient and environmentally responsible poultry production systems.

This Special Issue aims to gather recent advances in the use, evaluation, and optimization of alternative protein sources for poultry diets. It fits the scope of Animals by addressing animal nutrition, feed sustainability, and welfare, and by supporting interdisciplinary approaches to future-oriented livestock production. We welcome studies that assess the nutritional value, digestibility, safety, and performance outcomes of various alternative proteins, including insect meals, microalgae, single-cell proteins, co-products from food and biofuel industries, and fermented feed materials. Life cycle assessment (LCA), environmental and economic aspects, and effects on gut health and product quality are also of great interest.

In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. Research areas may include (but are not limited to) the following:

• The evaluation of insect meals, microalgae, and single-cell proteins in poultry feed;
• The use of agro-industrial by-products and fermented protein-rich materials;
• The impact of alternative proteins on poultry growth, health, and product quality;
• The digestibility, amino acid profiles, and metabolizable energy of novel feed ingredients;
• Gut microbiota modulation and immune responses;
• Sustainability assessment (e.g., carbon footprint, resource efficiency);
• Consumer acceptance and the labeling of animal products from alternative protein-fed poultry.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Ondřej Šťastník
Guest Editor

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. 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.