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Advances in Poultry Science: Nutritional Aspects of Poultry Production

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A special issue of Veterinary Sciences (ISSN 2306-7381).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2025 | Viewed by 18826

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Special Issue Editors

Dr. Catarina Stefanello

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Guest Editor

Department of Animal Science, Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
Interests: poultry production; broiler; poultry nutrition; nutrient digestibility, nutrient requirement; feed additive

Dr. Marco Antonio Ebbing

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Guest Editor

Technical Consultant, University of Natural Resources and Life Sciences, Vienna, Austria
Interests: feed milk; poultry production; breeder hen; feed manufacturing

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish high-quality papers on poultry production, poultry nutrition, and feed manufacturing for poultry. Many advances have been observed in Poultry Science, and we are looking for research articles/reviews exploring the advances on metabolism, cost-effective diets, and nutritional aspects affecting the feed efficiency of poultry.

Manuscripts published under this Special Issue may include, but are not limited to, the following topics:

The effects of poultry nutrition on meat and egg quality;
Updated nutrient requirements of poultry;
Nutrient and energy utilization of ingredients for poultry;
Variability in feed ingredients and their effects in poultry diets;
The effects of feed manufacturing on diet quality and poultry performance;
Feed processing and precision feeding;
Methods to evaluate feed quality and nutrient digestibility;
Nutritional factors that can influence intestinal health of poultry;
The use of feed additives to improve poultry performance;
Nutrient excretion to reduce environmental pollution;
The effects of environment and productions systems on poultry performance.

Dr. Catarina Stefanello
Dr. Marco Antonio Ebbing
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. Veterinary Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 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

eggshell quality
feed additive
feed manufacturing
ingredient
nutrient digestibility
nutritional requirement
sustainability

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Published Papers (9 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 3212 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Non-Targeted Metabolomics Analysis of Small Molecular Metabolites in Refrigerated Goose Breast Meat

by Dongzhi Miao, Xuebei Wu, Kui Zuo, Jing Chen, Ying Wang, Junhua Pu, Haiming Yang and Zhiyue Wang

Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(12), 637; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11120637 - 9 Dec 2024

Viewed by 491

Abstract

Poultry represents a rich source of multiple nutrients. Refrigeration is commonly employed for poultry preservation, although extended storage duration can adversely affect the meat quality. Current research on this topic has focused on the analysis of biochemical indices in chilled goose meat, with limited information on changes in metabolites that influence the quality of the meat during storage. This study used non-targeted metabolomics and the random forest algorithm to investigate metabolite changes in goose meat over an extended storage period. The results showed a significant change in the composition of the meat as the duration of storage increased, with the identification of 121 distinct metabolites. Further analysis identified 18 metabolites that could be used as indicators of the degradation of carbohydrates, amino acids, nucleotides, and lipids. These metabolites could be used as markers to monitor the deterioration process. These intermediate metabolites tended to be transformed into lower-level products involving pyruvate, acetyl coenzyme A, and fumaric acid, used in the tricarboxylic acid cycle, performing substance transformation. This comprehensive analysis of metabolites provides a valuable reference for monitoring the freshness of goose meat, potentially improving the safety of domestic poultry products. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Poultry Science: Nutritional Aspects of Poultry Production)

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16 pages, 1673 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Enhancing Laying Hens’ Performance, Egg Quality, Shelf Life during Storage, and Blood Biochemistry with Spirulina platensis Supplementation

by Md Salahuddin, Ahmed A. A. Abdel-Wareth, Kayla G. Stamps, Cassandra D. Gray, Adrian M. W. Aviña, Sadanand Fulzele and Jayant Lohakare

Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(8), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11080383 - 21 Aug 2024

Viewed by 2374

Abstract

Enhancing the sustainability of chicken farming involves improving health and productivity and product qualities. This study explores the influence of Spirulina platensis (SP) supplementation on the productivity, egg quality, shelf life during storage, and blood biochemistry of laying hens. A total of 192 thirty-nine-week-old White Leghorn hens were randomly divided into 4 dietary groups: a control group and 3 treatment groups receiving 2.5 g/kg, 5 g/kg, or 10 g/kg of SP, respectively. The study was conducted for six weeks with measuring feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production, egg quality, shelf life, and blood biochemistry. The results demonstrated significant enhancements in egg weight (p < 0.05) and egg mass (p < 0.05) in the treatment of SP groups. The SP treated hens showed significant improvements in yolk color (p < 0.05) and Haugh unit scores (p < 0.05). The SP supplementation showed a hepatoprotective effect, as indicated by significant reduction in Alanine aminotransferase (ALT) (p < 0.05) and alkaline phosphatase (ALP) (p < 0.05) levels; however, increases in total protein, albumin, and globulin levels were observed. Furthermore, the egg quality of stored eggs for 21 days linearly increased with increments in the SP levels. In conclusion, it can be speculated that adding SP at 2.5 g/kg and 5 g/kg can significantly improve the productivity of laying hens, eggs’ quality, shelf life, and blood biochemistry, thereby contributing to a more sustainable and efficient chicken production. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Poultry Science: Nutritional Aspects of Poultry Production)

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15 pages, 1269 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing the Impacts of Different Levels of Nano-Selenium on Growth Performance, Serum Metabolites, and Gene Expression in Heat-Stressed Growing Quails

by Rania Mahmoud, Basma Salama, Fatmah A. Safhi, Ioan Pet, Elena Pet and Ahmed Ateya

Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(6), 228; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11060228 - 21 May 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1380

Abstract

Nano-minerals are employed to enhance mineral bioavailability thus promoting the growth and well-being of animals. In recent times, nano-selenium (nano-Se) has garnered significant attention within the scientific community owing to its potential advantages in the context of poultry. This study was conducted to explore the impact of using variable levels of nano-Se on the growth performance, carcass characteristics, serum constituents, and gene expression in growing Japanese quails under both thermoneutral and heat stress conditions. A randomized experimental design was used in a 2 × 3 factorial, with 2 environmental conditions (thermoneutral and heat stress) and 3 nano-Se levels (0, 0.2, and 0.5 mg/kg of diet. The findings revealed that heat stress negatively affected the growth and feed utilization of quails; indicated by the poor BWG and FCR. Additionally, oxidative stress was aggravated under heat stress condition; indicated by increased lipids peroxidation and decreased antioxidant enzymes activities. The addition of nano-Se, especially at the level of 0.2 mg/kg of diet, significantly improved the performance of heat stressed quails and restored blood oxidative status. The expression profile of inflammatory and antioxidant markers was modulated by heat stress and/or 0.2 and 0.5 nano-Se in conjunction with environmental temperature in quail groups. In comparison to the control group, the heat stress-exposed quails’ expression profiles of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8 showed a notable up-regulation. Significantly lower levels of the genes for IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8 and higher levels of the genes for SOD and GPX as compared to the heat stress group demonstrated the ameliorative impact of 0.2 nano-Se. The expression profiles of IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, and IL-8 are dramatically elevated in quails exposed to 0.5 nano-Se when compared to the control group. SOD and GPX markers, on the other hand, were markedly down-regulated. It was concluded that nano-Se by low level in heat stressed growing quails provides the greatest performance and its supplementation can be considered as a protective management practice in Japanese quail diets to reduce the negative impact of heat stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Poultry Science: Nutritional Aspects of Poultry Production)

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14 pages, 595 KiB

Open AccessArticle

A Three-Year Study on the Nutritional Composition and Occurrence of Mycotoxins of Corn Varieties with Different Transgenic Events Focusing on Poultry Nutrition

by Juliano Kobs Vidal, Cristina Tonial Simões, Adriano Olnei Mallmann, Denize Tyska, Helder Victor Pereira and Carlos Augusto Mallmann

Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(2), 97; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11020097 - 19 Feb 2024

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1899

Abstract

Corn is one of the most produced cereals in the world and plays a major role in poultry nutrition. As there is limited scientific information regarding the impact of transgenic technology on the quality and nutrient composition of the grains, this study investigated the effect of three major transgenic corn varieties—VT PRO3^®, PowerCore^® ULTRA, and Agrisure^® Viptera 3—on the field traits, nutrient composition, and mycotoxin contamination of corn grains cultivated in southern Brazil during three consecutive harvests. VT PRO3^®, while demonstrating superior crop yield, showed susceptibility to mycotoxins, particularly fumonisins. In contrast, PowerCore^® ULTRA, with the lowest yield, consistently exhibited lower levels of fumonisins. VT PRO3^® had higher AME_n than the other varieties, while PowerCore^® ULTRA had the highest total and digestible amino acid contents over the three years. The study’s comprehensive analysis reveals the distinct impact of transgenic corn technologies on both productivity and nutritional levels. Balancing the crops yield, mycotoxin resistance, and nutritional content of corn is crucial to meet the demands of the poultry feed industry. Such insights are essential for decision-making, ensuring sustainability and efficiency in agricultural production as well as meeting the demands of the poultry industry. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Poultry Science: Nutritional Aspects of Poultry Production)

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15 pages, 1170 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Effects of Spirulina platensis and/or Allium sativum on Antioxidant Status, Immune Response, Gut Morphology, and Intestinal Lactobacilli and Coliforms of Heat-Stressed Broiler Chicken

by Youssef A. Attia, Reda A. Hassan, Nicola Francesco Addeo, Fulvia Bovera, Rashed A. Alhotan, Adel D. Al-qurashi, Hani H. Al-Baadani, Mohamed A. Al-Banoby, Asmaa F. Khafaga, Wolfgang Eisenreich, Awad A. Shehata and Shereen Basiouni

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(12), 678; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10120678 - 27 Nov 2023

Cited by 7 | Viewed by 2511

Abstract

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of the dietary addition of Spirulina platensis (SP) and/or garlic powder (GP) on heat-stressed broiler chickens. For this purpose, 600 Ross-308 broiler chicks were allocated at 22 days of age into five groups (G1–G5), each comprising six groups of 20 birds each. Chickens kept in G1 (negative control) were fed a basal diet and raised at 26 ± 1 °C. Chickens kept in G2 to G5 were exposed to periodic heat stress (35 ± 1 °C for 9 h/day) from 22 to 35 days old. Chickens in G2 (positive control) were provided a basal diet, while G3, G4, and G5 were fed a basal diet enriched with SP (1 g/kg diet), GP (200 mg/kg diet), or SP/GP (1 g SP/kg + 200 mg GP/kg diet), respectively. The assessment parameters included the chickens’ performance, malondialdehyde and total antioxidant capacity, blood biochemistry, intestinal morphology, and modulation of lactobacilli and total coliforms in the intestinal microbiota. Our findings demonstrated that supplementing heat-stressed chickens with SP and/or GP significantly mitigated the negative effects on the European production efficiency index (EPEF), survival rate, cholesterol profile, and oxidative stress markers. Chickens supplemented with GP and/or SP exhibited significantly better EPEF and survivability rates. Heat stress had a significant impact on both the gut structure and gut microbiota. However, SP and/or GP supplementation improved the gut morphology, significantly increased the intestinal lactobacilli, and reduced the coliform contents. It was also found that the simultaneous feeding of SP and GP led to even higher recovery levels with improved lipid metabolites, immunity, and oxidative status. Overall, supplementing chickens with SP and/or GP can alleviate the negative effects of heat stress. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Poultry Science: Nutritional Aspects of Poultry Production)

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11 pages, 1089 KiB

Open AccessEditor’s ChoiceArticle

Bioactive Lipid Compounds as Eco-Friendly Agents in the Diets of Broiler Chicks for Sustainable Production and Health Status

by Ahmed A. A. Abdel-Wareth and Jayant Lohakare

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(10), 612; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10100612 - 9 Oct 2023

Cited by 4 | Viewed by 2166

Abstract

Phytogenic compounds can improve feed efficiency, meat quality, and the health status of chickens under hot climatic conditions. The current study investigated the impact of the bioactive lipid compounds of oregano and peppermint and their combination on the sustainability of meat production and the health of broiler chicks in hot climatic conditions. Two hundred and fifty-six one-day-old broiler chicks were distributed into four treatment groups. The birds were fed a control diet, bioactive lipid compounds of oregano (BLCO, 150 mg/kg), bioactive lipid compounds of peppermint (BLCP, 150 mg/kg), or a combination of BLCO and BLCP at 150 mg/kg each for 35 days. Each treatment included 8 replicates, each with 8 birds. The results showed that adding BLCO and BLCP separately or in combination to broiler diets improved body weight, body weight gain, and feed conversion ratio. BLCO, BLCP, or their combination increased the percentages of the dressing and gizzard and lowered the percentage of abdominal fat as compared to the control. Supplementation of BLCO, BLCP, or their combination decreased serum cholesterol, triglycerides, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine transaminase, creatinine, and urea compared to control. BLCO, BLCP, or their combination reduced cook and drip loss in the meat of broilers. In conclusion, birds fed diets containing BLCO and BLCP, either independently or in combination, showed improvements in performance, blood biochemistry, and meat quality in hot climatic conditions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Poultry Science: Nutritional Aspects of Poultry Production)

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24 pages, 3207 KiB

Open AccessArticle

Impacts of Solid-State Fermented Barley with Fibrolytic Exogenous Enzymes on Feed Utilization, and Antioxidant Status of Broiler Chickens

by Doaa Ibrahim, Hassainen I. El-sayed, Elsabbagh R. Mahmoud, Ghada I. Abd El-Rahman, Shefaa M. Bazeed, Abdelwahab A. Abdelwarith, Aya Elgamal, Samah S. Khalil, Elsayed M. Younis, Asmaa T. Y. Kishawy, Simon J. Davies and Abdallah E. Metwally

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(10), 594; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10100594 - 27 Sep 2023

Cited by 10 | Viewed by 2290

Abstract

The present and future high demand of common cereals as corn and wheat encourage the development of feed processing technology that allows for the dietary inclusion of other cereals of low nutritional value in poultry feeding. Barley grains contain anti-nutritional factors that limit their dietary inclusion in the poultry industry. The treatment of barley with solid-state fermentation and exogenous enzymes (FBEs) provides a good alternative to common cereals. In this study, barley grains were subjected to solid-state microbial fermentation using Lactobacillus plantarum, Bacillus subtilis and exogenous fibrolytic enzymes. This study aimed to assess the impact of FBEs on growth, feed utilization efficiency, immune modulation, antioxidant status and the expression of intestinal barrier and nutrient transporter-related genes. One-day-old broiler chicks (Ross 308, n = 400) comprised four representative groups with ten replicates (10 chicks/replicate) and were fed corn-soybean meal basal diets with inclusions of FBEs at 0, 5, 10 and 15% for 38 days. Solid-state fermentation of barley grains with fibrolytic enzymes increased protein content, lowered crude fiber and reduced sugars compared to non-fermented barley gains. In consequence, the group fed FBEs10% had the superior feed utilization efficiency and body weight gain (increased by 4.7%) with higher levels of nutrient metabolizability, pancreatic digestive enzyme activities and low digesta viscosity. Notably, the group fed FBEs10% showed an increased villi height and a decreased crypt depth with a remarkable hyperactivity of duodenal glands. In addition, higher inclusion levels of FBEs boosted serum immune-related parameters and intestinal and breast muscle antioxidants status. Intestinal nutrient transporters encoding genes (GLUT-1, CAAT-1, LAT1 and PepT-1) and intestinal barriers encoding genes (MUC-2, JAM-2, occludin, claudins-1 and β-defensin 1) were upregulated with higher dietary FBEs levels. In conclusion, feeding on FBEs10% positively enhanced broiler chickens’ performance, feed efficiency and antioxidant status, and boosted intestinal barrier nutrient transporters encoding genes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Poultry Science: Nutritional Aspects of Poultry Production)

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Review

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23 pages, 3520 KiB

Open AccessReview

A Systematic Review and Metanalysis on the Use of Hermetia illucens and Tenebrio molitor in Diets for Poultry

by Yuri Katagiri Dalmoro, Carolina H. Franceschi and Catarina Stefanello

Vet. Sci. 2023, 10(12), 702; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10120702 - 12 Dec 2023

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 2680

Abstract

Insect meal as a protein source has been considered a sustainable way to feed animals. H. illucens and T. molitor larvae meal are considered high-protein sources for poultry, also presenting considerable amounts of fatty acids, vitamins, and minerals. However, other potential components in insect meal and insect oil have been more extensively studied in recent years. Chitin, lauric acid, and antimicrobial peptides can present antimicrobial and prebiotic functions, indicating that low levels of their inclusion in insect meal can beneficially affect broilers’ health and immune responses. This systematic review was developed to study the impact of insect products on the health parameters of broilers, and a metanalysis was conducted to evaluate the effects on performance. A database was obtained based on a selection of manuscripts from January 2016 to January 2023, following the mentioned parameters. Both H. illucens and T. molitor meal or oil products had positive effects on poultry health status, especially on the ileal and cecal microbiota population, immune responses, and antimicrobial properties. The average daily gain was greater in broilers fed T. molitor meal compared to H. illucens meal (p = 0.002). The results suggest that low levels of insect meal are suitable for broilers, without resulting in negative effects on body weight gain and the feed conversion ratio, while the insect oil can totally replace soybean oil without negative impacts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Poultry Science: Nutritional Aspects of Poultry Production)

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Other

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10 pages, 1905 KiB

Open AccessBrief Report

Modulation of Poultry Cecal Microbiota by a Phytogenic Blend and High Concentrations of Casein in a Validated In Vitro Cecal Chicken Alimentary Tract Model

by Igor V. Popov, Nouhaila Belkassem, Ruud Schrijver, Iuliia P. Chebotareva, Michael L. Chikindas, Alexey M. Ermakov and Koen Venema

Vet. Sci. 2024, 11(8), 377; https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci11080377 - 16 Aug 2024

Viewed by 1336

Abstract

Phytogenic blends (PBs) consist of various bioactive plant-derived compounds that are used as growth promoters for farm animals. Feed additives based on PBs have beneficial effects on farm animals’ production performance, health, and overall well-being, as well as positive modulating effects on gut microbiota. In this study, we used a validated in vitro cecal chicken alimentary tract model (CALIMERO-2) to evaluate the effects of a PB (a mix of components found in rosemary, cinnamon, curcuma, oregano oil, and red pepper), alone or in combination with casein (control), on poultry cecal microbiota. Supplementation with the PB significantly increased the abundance of bacteria associated with energy metabolism (Monoglobus) and growth performance in poultry (Lachnospiraceae UCG-010). The PB also decreased the abundance of opportunistic pathogens (Escherichia-Shigella) and, most importantly, did not promote other opportunistic pathogens, which indicates the safety of this blend for poultry. In conclusion, the results of this study show promising perspectives on using PBs as feed additives for poultry, although further in vivo studies need to prove these data. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advances in Poultry Science: Nutritional Aspects of Poultry Production)

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