Due to the wide acceptance of poultry meat and eggs, poultry farming is the fastest growing global livestock industry. Nutrition plays a vital role in economic production and the maintenance of proper poultry health. Therefore, there is a great need to update balanced nutrient requirements for new breeds, utilize alternative feed resources, evaluate newer feed additives to optimize production while excluding antimicrobial feed additives and maintain overall health. The first section of this book contains six chapters that discuss the utilization of unconventional feeds, nanominerals to reduce mineral proportions in diets, and water intake affected by environmental temperature. The second section contains six chapters that describe proper nutritional management to improve gut health and immunity, the prevention of common diseases, and the amelioration of heat stress in poultry.

The aim of this Special Issue is to publish high quality papers concerning poultry nutrition and the interrelations between nutrition, metabolism, microbiota and the health of poultry. Therefore, I invite submissions of recent findings, as original research or reviews, on poultry nutrition, including, but not limited to, the following areas: the effect of feeding on poultry meat end egg quality; nutrient requirements of poultry; the use of functional feed additives to improve gut health and immune status; microbiota; nutraceuticals; soybean meal replacers as alternative sources of protein for poultry; the effects of feeding poultry on environmental impacts; the use of feed/food by-products in poultry diet; and feed technology.

Poultry production involving farmed avian species (chickens, turkeys and ducks) is globally recognised as a vital aspect of animal agriculture. It contributes greatly to supply of high-quality protein (meat and egg) for humans. The intensification and commercialization of the poultry sector is accelerated and continues to be so as a result of research discoveries in the field of breeding, nutrition, housing management and disease control. However, the explosion in poultry nutrition research, in particular, has significant impact on the success of the poultry sector. The progress in nutritional research is made possible by several advanced techniques reported by researchers in both academia and industry. Nutritional research is mainly geared towards improving knowledge on ingredients good for the growth and health of the bird and of nutritional requirements for various types and classes of birds, as well as the ability to match nutritional requirements of any type or class of bird for variable conditions including that of the environment. This chapter discusses the importance and growth of the poultry sector. Also, nutritional research efforts over the years, achievements, some notable advance research techniques employed, and challenges confronting nutritional research in the 21st Century have been highlighted.

Advances in Poultry Welfare provides a targeted overview of contemporary developments in poultry welfare. The reviews in the volume address topical issues related to poultry welfare research and assessment, with a focus on identifying practical strategies for improvement as well as information gaps that remain to be filled. Part One provides an introduction to poultry production systems and gives a broad overview of current poultry welfare issues. Part Two moves on to review several aspects of poultry management, focusing on hatchery practices, early rearing, and slaughter. Part Three deals with welfare assessment on the farm, while Part Four explores continuing challenges, such as feather pecking and skeletal problems. This is followed in Part Five by a discussion of emerging issues, with chapters covering alternative parasite control methods, backyard poultry production, mass depopulation, and genetic approaches to reducing the impact of environmental stressors on welfare. This book is an essential part of the wider ranging series Advances in Farm Animal Welfare, with coverage of cattle, sheep, pigs, and poultry. With its expert editor and international team of contributors, Advances in Poultry Welfare is a key reference tool for welfare research scientists and students, veterinarians involved in welfare assessment, and indeed anyone with a professional interest in the welfare of poultry. Provides in-depth reviews of emerging topics, research and applications in poultry welfare Integral part of a wider series, Advances in Agricultural Animal Welfare, which will provide comprehensive coverage of animal welfare of the world’s major farmed animals Covers a range of topical issues within the field, from beak-trimming and skeletal problems, to early rearing and the design and management of poultry production systems Edited by a distinguished leader in the field

The book has detailed information about the recent advances made and future course expected in the field of poultry nutrition. In the past, main focus was on increasing the meat and egg production to meet the ever-increasing demand of animal protein globally. However, futuristic demand in poultry is driven not only by the need to maximize biological and economic performance of birds, but also by societal issues (environmental, welfare, antibiotic growth promoters, traceability and use of genetically modified ingredients). Thus, an attempt has been made to assemble most of the recent scientific research work made, in order to enlighten and update the knowledge of students, teachers, research scholars, and industrialists in the field of poultry nutrition.

Recent Developments in Poultry Nutrition is a collection of studies that cover important developments in poultry nutrition. The book presents 23 papers that deal with the various areas of concerns in poultry nutrition. The coverage of the text includes materials that deal with poultry diet, such as metabolizable energy evaluation of poultry diets; the impact of declaration of the metabolizable energy value of poultry feeds; and the influence of fiber on digestibility of poultry feeds. The book also deals with egg production issues, including the influence of nutritional factors on hatchability; eggshell formation and quality; and dietary phosphorus for laying hens. The text will be of great use to researchers and professionals in the poultry industry. Consumers will also find this book interesting since it discusses topics that can directly affect them.