Sustainable Feed Additives for Immunity and Disease Control in Poultry
A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381).
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 December 2026 | Viewed by 158
Editors
Interests: phytogenics; broilers; feedstuffs; animal nutrition
Interests: aromatic plants; animal nutrition; legumes; poultry
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
The increasing restrictions on antibiotic use in poultry production, together with rising concerns about antimicrobial resistance and food safety, have accelerated the search for sustainable and effective alternatives to conventional growth promoters. Feed additives derived from natural and functional sources—such as phytogenic compounds, probiotics, prebiotics, and bioactive plant extracts—are emerging as promising strategies to enhance poultry health, immunity, and disease resistance while maintaining productivity and product quality.
Recent research highlights the capacity of phytogenic feed additives to modulate gut microbiota, improve intestinal barrier function, and regulate immune-related gene expression in poultry. These compounds, including essential oils and plant-derived bioactives, have been shown to enhance antioxidant capacity, reduce inflammatory responses, and support overall physiological resilience under intensive production conditions. At the same time, sustainable feed resources such as agro-industrial by-products rich in polyphenols are gaining attention for their dual role in improving animal health and promoting circular bioeconomy practices.
This Special Issue aims to present recent advances in the development and application of sustainable feed additives for improving immune function and controlling diseases in poultry. We welcome contributions that explore mechanisms of action, including host–microbiota interactions, antioxidant and anti-inflammatory pathways, and molecular regulation of immune responses. Studies addressing the role of feed additives in enhancing gut health, reducing pathogen load, and improving resilience to environmental and nutritional stressors are particularly encouraged.
By integrating nutrition, immunology, microbiology, and molecular biology, this Special Issue seeks to advance sustainable and science-based approaches for disease prevention and health management in poultry production systems, contributing to safer food production and improved animal welfare.
Dr. Vasileios V. Paraskeuas
Dr. Vassilios Dotas
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2100 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
- sustainable feed additives
- poultry
- immunity
- disease control
- phytogenic compounds
- gut microbiota
- antioxidant capacity
- intestinal health
- antibiotic alternatives
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