Metabolic, Health, and Productivity Challenges in Poultry Production

Dear Colleagues,

Modern poultry production systems are characterized by rapid growth rates and high production efficiency, which, while economically beneficial, often predispose birds to various metabolic disorders and physiological imbalances. Over the last few decades, the incidence of metabolic disorders in poultry production has increased, accounting for huge economic losses in the poultry industry. Conditions such as ascites, fatty liver syndrome, sudden death syndrome, and skeletal disorders are becoming increasingly prevalent, raising concerns about animal welfare, economic losses, and the sustainability of poultry production.

These disorders are not related to infectious diseases; rather, they occur due to dysfunctions in metabolic processes, including the inability of the body to keep up with the demand for an increased metabolism, rapid growth rate, or higher egg production, resulting in morbidity and/or mortality. However, implementing appropriate modifications to the environment, nutrition, and managerial needs of poultry can help ameliorate these events. This heightens our need to understand the complex interactions between nutrition, physiology, environment, and management practices that influence the performance, health, and welfare of poultry.

This Special Issue aims to collate original research and review articles addressing existing and emerging challenges to poultry metabolism, health, and productivity. We welcome submissions that investigate the physiological, nutritional, genetic, and environmental factors contributing to metabolic and physiological imbalances in poultry species. Topics of interest for this Special Issue include, but are not limited to the following:

1. Genetic and physiological mechanisms underlying metabolic disorders in poultry.
2. Nutritional strategies to prevent and mitigate metabolic syndromes in poultry.
3. Impacts of oxidative and heat stress on poultry health, performance, and metabolism.
4. Understanding of the gut health and microbiome dynamics under health and metabolic conditions.
5. Precision feeding and sustainable initiatives to improve poultry health and productivity.
6. Environmental and managerial strategies to enhance the resilience and welfare of poultry.
7. Development of early detection, health monitoring, and diagnostic tools for poultry.

This Special Issue seeks to foster a comprehensive understanding of the multifactorial nature of metabolic challenges in poultry and further explore the underlying mechanisms driving these challenges. It also encourages the development of innovative strategies to mitigate these issues, ranging from dietary interventions, environmental modifications, genetic strategies, and health-monitoring technologies. By addressing these multifactorial challenges, the research aims to support the development of resilient, efficient, and welfare-friendly poultry production systems that can meet the growing global demand for animal protein.

We invite you to share your recent findings in this Special Issue.

Dr. Victoria Anthony Uyanga
Dr. Felix Kwame Amevor
Guest Editors

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